Founded in 2007, Ben's Friends is a 501c3 non-profit that has operates free online support communities for people living with rare diseases. We've been featured in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and Tech Crunch for our impact. If healthcare is a cause that is meaningful to you, please consider a donation. A $500 donation helps thousands of patients connect with others like them.

Hi, my name is Ben. In 2006, at the age of 29, I suffered a rare type of stroke caused by an AVM, which is similar to an aneurysm. I made it through the stroke, but I still had to face recovery, brain surgery, and two years of waiting for my brain to heal. During that time, I was virtually alone.

That shouldn’t be the case for anyone, so I started a free online support group, which became Ben’s Friends Patient Communities. Here, those of us with rare medical conditions can connect with others like us. We share, and we care about each other. No words can truly describe the bond we share.

Ben’s Friends has patient support communities for dozens of rare medical conditions. These communities help thousands of people across the United States and around the world. But there are still millions more who need help.

Our mission is to ensure that anyone with a rare medical condition has a safe place to go where they can connect with others like them. If you or someone you know could benefit from a caring support community, or if you’d like to help in any way, please visit us at benfriends.org.