The first annual “Talk to Me” Color Run/Walk raised $24,976.34 after expenses, which will go towards mental health and PTSD awareness for other first responders.

Held in honour of the late first responder Dustin Sieker, the run drew 536 participants to the Wapiti Nordic Ski Club on May 4.

“It went really well; we were surprised,” said Belinda Sieker, organizer and the mother of Dustin. “The trails were awesome. It turned out beautiful regardless of the snow and whatever.”

Dustin Sieker had been an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and EMS Operation Supervisor in Grande Prairie. In May 2018, Dustin died by suicide at the age of 36. The Dustin Sieker Legacy Fund was later created to provide student awards for advanced care paramedics and contribute to local mental health programs.

“I gave $10,000 to the Community Foundation to put into that scholarship for a new EMS worker,” Belinda said. “Eighty per cent goes to that and 20 per cent goes to mental health.”

“And now the rest of the money I’m keeping for the fall,” she added. “We just want to do more things for first responders.”

Runners got sprayed with coloured chalk while wearing white T-shirts during the event. They also collected ribbons along the trail if they talked to someone. The person with the most ribbons received a prize. In addition, the run featured silent auction items and a barbecue by donation.

Belinda confirmed that this run would continue each year on the first weekend of May. She added that the run may switch venues in order to have more parking.

“Hopefully, it’s bigger and better than this year,” she said. “I’m thinking that it will be. I’ve already got people who have gotten a hold of me and wanted to know if we were doing the races again next year and when we were going to do it so they can put it in their calendars. I’m thinking there’s going to be quite a few people returning again.”