SUDBURY – Students laced up their sneakers at Collège Boréal to raise awareness about PTSD support and treatment for first responders.
The weather was brisk but that didn't discourage any of the runners.
Participants had the choice of either running the one kilometre, the five kilometre or the 10 kilometre.
They were also treated to warm food and a massage inside the school afterwards.
"It's a race that's organized by the fitness and health promotion students at Collège Boréal, we're raising funds for I've Got Your Back 911," explained Emilie Lacroix, Collège Boréal Program Coordinator.
"I'm a first-responder, I'm a paramedic and I believe that it's nice to incorporate the fitness component to it because it's a good way of helping your mental health," commented ValerieBreen, Collège Boréal Professor.
Chief Paul Pederson of the Greater Sudbury Police Services added that "for Sudbury Police, certainly we're feeling the effects of occupational stress injuries and post-traumatic stress, illness as well… this is all about raising awareness, breaking down stigma, raising funds for groups like I've Got Your Back 911 that are helping our people… our people need to get help so we can help the public."
According to the I've Got Your Back 911 website, since April 2014, at least 196 first responders and military service individuals across Canada have died by suicide.
