Madison, Wis. – The Iowa County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with local businesses and Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, is launching a fundraising walk/5K on Saturday, Nov. 14, to support the creation of the Hidden Beauty Retreat. The retreat will be a 25‑acre mental‑health and addiction treatment facility reserved exclusively for first‑responders who have sacrificed so much for their communities.
Why the retreat matters
First Help, a national organization that tracks first‑responder suicides, reports that 81 first‑responders have taken their own lives in the United States so far this year. The loss of these brave men and women underscores a growing crisis: the mental‑health needs of those who run toward danger daily are often overlooked.
“The YES program is super excited about this in terms of changing the narrative about mental health and first response,” said Alex Garvey, chair of the Youth Emergency Services (YES) program with the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office. “For so long, it was seen as weak or there was a stigma associated with feeling the big feels that inevitably come with first response and we want to shift that and empower not only the next generation but support the ones who are running right now.”
Walk/5K details
The event will begin at 9 a.m. at the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office. Participants can choose a one‑mile walk or a full 5K run, both designed to symbolize first‑responders running toward what many others run from. Garvey added, “We just feel really strongly about showing up for people who show up for everyone else day after day.”
Registration and additional information are available on the Run Forward website. The walk is open to all community members, families of first‑responders, and anyone who wishes to support the cause.
Community and business backing
Local businesses, including Tellurian, have pledged financial support, and Jordan Love’s involvement brings statewide attention to the initiative. Their combined efforts aim to secure the funding needed to break ground on the retreat’s construction.
“When we come together as a community, we can provide the resources our heroes need to heal and thrive,” Love said in a recent interview. “This retreat will give them a safe place to recover and rebuild their lives.”
How the funds will be used
All proceeds from the walk/5K will go directly toward land acquisition, building construction, and the development of therapeutic programs tailored to first‑responders. The retreat will offer counseling, peer‑support groups, and addiction treatment services, all staffed by professionals experienced in the unique stresses of emergency work.
Garvey emphasized that the retreat’s mission aligns with the broader goal of reducing stigma around mental health within the first‑responder community. “Changing the narrative starts with visible support,” he said. “Events like this walk show that we value their mental well‑being as much as we value their physical safety.”
Get involved
Residents who wish to volunteer, donate, or simply attend the walk can sign up through the Run Forward website. The event promises a family‑friendly atmosphere, with opportunities for local vendors and a post‑walk gathering to celebrate the community’s commitment to those who protect it.
By uniting law‑enforcement, local businesses, and sports figures, Iowa County hopes to set a model for other regions facing similar mental‑health challenges among first‑responders.
Original reporting: NBC15 WMTV (Gray) – local — read the source article.
