Virginia First Responder Support Services

10/14/2026

Mark your calendars! 🏍️💜🩵

The Ride to Fight Su***de returns on June 5, 2027, at Steven Toyota in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

We will come together to ride, raise awareness, and support mental health programs for veterans and first responders. More details are coming soon so stay tuned!

***de ***dePrevention

10/14/2026

We’re excited to present at the 2nd Annual Wintergreen Peak of Preparedness EMS Summit!

Join Lt. Ben Thompson, Executive Director, and Sarah Thompson, Ph.D., Clinical Director, for practical sessions supporting first responder mental health:

📅 November 18
• 1:00–4:00 PM — Mental Health Awareness

📅 November 20
• 9:15–10:15 AM — Introduction to Su***de Prevention for First Responders
• 10:30–11:30 AM — Mental Health Hospitalization and Return to Duty
• 1:00–2:00 PM — Loving a First Responder

The su***de prevention and hospitalization sessions are offered through donations from Brave Hearts and Bright Futures, in honor of Donnie L. Wedding.

Register here: https://form.fillout.com/t/wHRHeJ4iNuus

10/03/2026

Our hearts are so full. ❤️

Thank you to Brave Hearts & Bright Futures for donating an incredible $25,000 to Virginia First Responder Support Services through the DLW Memorial Golf Tournament, held in honor of Donnie L. Wedding.

To everyone who organized, sponsored, played, donated, bought raffle tickets, volunteered, or cheered from the sidelines: this gift reflects the care and generosity of an entire community. We’re deeply grateful to each of you.

Your support will help us better support Virginia’s first responders and their families through peer support, mental health counseling, and education, including multiple su***de prevention classes at no cost to participants. That means more people can learn how to recognize when someone may be struggling, start a caring conversation, and connect them with support.

Thank you for turning Donnie’s memory into hope and help for others. We’ll carry your generosity forward in the work we do for Virginia’s first responders and the people who stand beside them.

***dePrevention

10/03/2026

Peer support starts with showing up, listening, and helping a colleague connect with support.

Join Virginia First Responder Support Services for Peer Support Training:

📅 October 17–18
Saturday, 9:00 AM – Sunday, 5:00 PM

📍 Albemarle Fire and Rescue
460 Stagecoach Rd, Suite F
Charlottesville, VA 22902-6441

See the event and RSVP:
https://facebook.com/events/s/peer-support-training/1826010225426390/

10/03/2026

Support should continue after the last shift.

A recent UCF RESTORES study connected nearly three decades of Florida records and identified 307 su***de deaths among fire service members between 1999 and March 2026. More than one-third of those with known license status were no longer active in the fire service when they died.

The study can’t tell us why those individual deaths occurred. But it reminds us that connection and support matter throughout a responder’s career and through retirement, disability, and other transitions out of service.

A check-in can open a door. Peer support can help someone feel understood. Culturally competent professional care should be easy to reach, without shame.

Let’s keep showing up for one another, even after the uniform comes off.

If you or someone you know is in crisis call or text 988.

Read the study: https://www.ucf.edu/news/ucf-restores-study-helps-identify-risk-factors-strengthens-firefighter-su***de-prevention/

10/02/2026

We’re out at the DLW Memorial Golf Tournament today at Lee’s Hill Golf Club in Fredericksburg! ⛳️

Stop by and say hello while you’re here enjoying a great day of golf, raffles, a 50/50 drawing, and food. We’re glad to be part of it! 💚

10/01/2026

Last year, the raised $18,000 for Virginia First Responder Support Services. This year, we have the tremendous goal of SURPASSING $18,000 and raising MORE for this incredible organization!

We need YOUR help! The purchase of raffle tickets, cigar packs, DLW sticker packs and event shirts are instrumental in helping us reach this goal!

Cash and card payments are accepted tomorrow and there's OVER 30 opportunities to win prizes!

Let's do this! 💪❤️⛳🚒

09/28/2026

Come on out!!

🚨🚨 ATTENTION! 🚨🚨

We have space available for FIVE TEAMS for next Friday's ⛳🚒

Teams will be filled first come, first served! Use the link below to register your FULL TEAM and be part of an incredible day of golf and giving!

👉https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2nd-annual-dlw-golf-tournament-golfer-registration