North Bay firefighter honours late brother by launching youth mental health fundraiser

North Bay firefighter Wade Ringler knows all too well about the importance of opening up about mental health.

Ringler’s brother, Chad, a firefighter for 27 years, tragically passed away at the age of 47 in January after taking his life. Wade said Chad suffered from an internal mental health battle.

"Things pile up and they don't just go away. Talk early often and now," said Wade.

“Chad was an amazing guy. He helped so many people. He was a very well respected captain in the fire department."

Ringler is honouring his brother's legacy by starting ‘Chat4Chad’ to encourage people suffering in silence to speak up and find the strength to get help.

He’s collecting money to help youth coming out of the North Bay Regional Health Centre's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit and the Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Unit to get them on the right path.

"They need basic things sometimes,” he said.

“It could be clothing, or gym memberships, or family experiences. There's a lot of flexibility with what we're going to do."

North Bay firefighter Wade Ringler knows all too well about the importance of opening up about mental health. Ringler’s brother, Chad, a firefighter for 27 years, tragically passed away at the age of 47 in January after taking his life. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

The six-bedroom unit is equipped with a kitchen and a dining area where children and adolescents can eat and prepare food.

There is a lounge with a TV room and a place to play video games and do arts and crafts. There is a classroom, a gym, and a place to do some gardening.

The unit offers crisis services to children and adolescents under the age of 18 with serious mental health problems living in Nipissing, Parry Sound, South Cochrane and Muskoka districts.

Each year, the unit provides critical help and intervention to about 120 youth patients.

“We've got an amazing care team and resources while they're here,” said Tammy Morison, the hospital’s foundation president.

“These funds will ensure they can transition back to home."

Ringler made a short presentation to the North Bay Police Services Board on Tuesday morning about the campaign.

After the presentation, the board approved a motion to donate $1,000 to the cause in solidarity with their fellow emergency service providers.

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"Wade and his family are heroic devoting time and money to that commitment to improve the outcome of children in our community to make our community a better place,” said North Bay Police Chief Scott Tod.

“It is very important for our police services to work with our emergency service partners in our community and recognize the trauma that happens to service workers across our community."

While the Ringler family comes to grips with a traumatic situation, they want to bring some good out of it all in Chad's name.

"Chad would want it,” Wade said. “You know it's important and necessary and it has to happen now."

The Chat4Chad campaign is hosting a gala dinner and fundraiser at the Grande Event Centre on June 24. That event is already sold out.

Donations can still be made through the Chat4Chad website.