The OFRF hope to raise $100,000 by August 2020.

First responders run into situations that most people would run away from and many are affected deeply by these events.

In an effort to get first responders the help they need on a local level, the Ottawa First Responders Foundation (OFRF) was launched this week.

The idea for the foundation came to founder Brenda Tirrell about a decade ago, when she became a volunteer firefighter.

"I started to notice maybe there was some gap in what was needed for first responders," Tirrell explained. "But it became more and more evident as I stayed on the service and realized that there's just some things that first responders could use other than what was made available to us."

Some of those missing things include better peer support, informed clinical support and more education for students coming into the field.

All the funds raised will go directly into programs that support mental health initiatives for first responders.

Tirrell is hoping that the OFRF will provide these resources to first responders and their families, well into retirement as well.

"Having served for so many years, we feel that these are some of the people that need help and support the most," said Tirrell. "So we will be reaching out to retirees within the three services, or veterans as they're called by the police services."

They are hoping to raise $100,000 for the OFRF by August 2020 and they are well on their way to making that goal.

On Wednesday, the OFRF announced a $30,000 donation from two local business owners, along with a $1,000 donation from a local couple who also pledged to support the foundation in their will.

More fundraising will be done in the fall, with the 10th annual 9runrun on October 19.

9runrun is an annual run in support of Ottawa's Police, Fire and Paramedic services and this year all the money raised will be given to the Ottawa First Responders Foundation.

For more information about the foundation, click here.