Celebrating the hashtag with stories that made an impact: #CupForBen

It’s ten years this week since Chris Messina suggested on Twitter that we use the # (pound) to organise conversations. To celebrate we’re sharing stories throughout the week that have used a hashtag to great effect and made a lasting impact on Twitter. Today, #CupForBen.

In November 2016, Twitter became a lifeline for Marc Carter (@grumpycarer) and his son Ben. Ben is autistic and has been drinking from the same Tommy Tippee blue cup since he was two years old. The company stopped making the cup about ten years ago, and because Ben doesn’t like to drink out of any other cup, his dad became worried when Ben’s cup began to disintegrate.

Hoping that someone would have a spare cup tucked away in the back of a cupboard, Marc Tweeted a picture of Ben’s cup using the hashtag #CupForBen.

It wasn’t long before #CupForBen caught the attention of the cup’s manufacturer, @TomeeTippee_UK. Eager to help, the brand offered to help Ben and his family.

A team were dispatched to look for the the original designs of the cup. This meant that Tommee Tippee were able to produce a lifetime supply of cups for Ben to keep him happy and hydrated for years to come. 

On Twitter, Marc shared his delight with the world Tweeting ‘Goodnight all, I’m exhausted and need to sleep, thank you being incredible. Ben’s life has genuinely been made better tonight x #CupForBen’. Marc continues to use Twitter everyday to give families with autistic children a voice.