Steppin’ in Support for 1977

Hello, my name is Andrew Cherkas. I am an active Aircraft Rescue Firefighter with Canadian Base Operators and former Firefighter with Winnipeg Fire Department. I am walking across Manitoba (489km) beginning September 10, 2025. I am walking to raise awareness, attention and funds to support Manitoba Firefighters struggling with mental health issues. Professional or volunteer. I was diagnosed with PTSD and almost lost my battle in 2021. Call volumes and intensity are up all over and members are in need of support. Please consider donating, sharing or doing whatever you can to help Manitoba Firefighters get the help and support they require to keep you safe. All funds collected will be donated to The Preston Heinbigner Memorial Fund which has recently been set up through the Winnipeg Foundation. Their committee will follow their terms of reference and send Manitoba firefighters in need to the BCPFFA Resilience Program, and has a larger goal of establishing a similar program right here in Manitoba. The cost of this in-person treatment program is $5300 plus travel, so please continue to share and donate if able, so we can raise as much money as possible and keep as many Manitoba firefighters healthy and safe when they need it most. I would like to thank Nick Kasper, President of United Firefighters of Winnipeg, for linking me to Preston’s Memorial Fund. This is exactly the type of foundation I hoped to support with Steppin’. My walk is on schedule to start September 10, and, assuming all goes well as planned, I will cross the province (489km) by September 23. The goal is to raise $197,777.77 in honour of Preston, a WFD member (reg. number 1977) who succumbed to a line of duty death related to mental health a little over one year ago.