Wake The Fallen

AJAX -- It was hard rock powered by soft hearts as a recent metal concert raised funds to support youth mental health services.

The Aug. 21 show featured metal bands Wake The Fallen and Burn The Rest at The Edge in Ajax and about 80 fans showed up and helped raise $1,039 which will be donated to the Ontario Shores Foundation for Mental Health.

"It's people our age, people we know who suffer from stuff like that, depression and mental illness," said Pickering resident Nick Cappa, guitarist for Wake The Fallen.

The concert was in honour of Thomas and George Campbell, Ajax brothers who committed suicide within three years of each other. Their father is a gastroenterologist and Mr. Cappa heard the story through his own father, who is a patient of Dr. Peter Campbell.

Mr. Cappa explained the band members have jobs and they didn't need to profit from the concert, so they decided to hold it as a benefit.

He expressed thanks to all the people who attended and donated as well as to The Edge for hosting the show and donating part of the sales to the charity.

Mr. Cappa said sometimes people have a negative impression of metal bands and music.

"I guess it's just the culture and the sound of music that scares people and makes them nervous," he said, but added the fundraiser was a prime example that metal bands can play with everyone having a good time and no problems.

Both Dr. Campbell and Jennifer Clark, executive director of the Ontario Shores Foundation for Mental Health, were on hand for the concert.

"I thought it was a really great event because it was conceived and in many way put on by some young people ... what it says to me is young people, they have such creativity and also are so very caring."

Ms. Clark said one of the top reasons people don't get mental health help is because of the stigma and it's important to reach young people and concerts like this can do just that.

"Many mental illnesses first start during early adolescence or early adulthood and it's particularly important for people of that age to become aware of it," she said.

Mr. Cappa said he and fellow band members Frank Frontera, Chris Folk, Paul Esposito, and Richard Abbott are putting the band on hold while they all go back to school, but that won't be the end of them.

"We're all leaving in the next week or two to go back, and once June comes around again we'll be back at it and for sure we'll do another one of these next year." - Reka Szekely - DurhamRegion