2nd Annual Marquette Donut Dash supports first responder mental health

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) - People ran and walked for a cause on Sunday in Marquette.

The second Annual Donut Dash raised money and awareness for first responder mental health. Roughly 160 people signed up for the one-mile and 5k races this morning.

All money raised from the event will go to support first responder mental health. Central U.P. Critical Incident Stress Management Peer Support Team Co-Coordinator Kristie Buruse says her organization helps first responders with costs like co-pays.

“Transport costs if they need to go to treatment and training for our team,” Buruse said. “Because our first responders see some of the most horrible things. Basically, what we say is that, ‘your worst day is their everyday.’”

She says the first step to improving mental health is often opening up.

“A lot of them were told to push it down and not talk about it and they did that for many, many years,” Buruse said. “Things have gotten like really, really much better but they don’t tend to talk about it. And now we’re getting them to talk about it, so things are getting a lot better.”

At just 18 years old, Darren Fraser is a probationary firefighter for Ishpeming Township. He says he’s seen people becoming more open to talking about mental health concerns.

“It’s important stuff,” Fraser said. “Some people hide it and try to steer away from it. It’s kind of becoming a new concern nowadays compared to the past few years, or however many years. People are starting to realize that mental health is actually a pretty important thing to people like us.”

A variety of awards were also handed out, celebrating teams of first responders who competed in the race together.

If you’d like to support first responder mental health by donating, you can find more information on the Central U.P. Critical Incident Stress Management website.

Race results are available courtesy of Superior Timing.

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