Dirty Dogs Roadhouse

This was written by my mom. Take a minute and read it if you can! Thank you! EJ

This year on July 14th, 2018, we will be hosting The Ride For Life First Responders Run in memory of all of our first responders in need of mental health and grief services and for suicide prevention within our uniformed community of brothers and sisters. In light of recent tragedies across our state, our ride will raise funds to make sure our first responders and their families have ample access to mental health services when needed. So many suffer in silence for many different reasons whether its a financial hardship or the fact that many stigmas still surround mental health issues. I will ride in memory of my Dad, Denver Fire Lt. and Public Information Officer, A. A. Wharton or Tex or Charley as many of his friends called him. He suffered in silence for an unknown amount of years before he took his life in July 1994. Nobody knew of his demons within before his suicide but there were signs throughout his life as I look back now. Nobody within his department must have seen it because he hid it well and at home there were no red flags for what was coming. His depression was a life long battle. His OCD was evident in every part of his life. I wonder now if he kept his house, his family, his life in such tight order because of the often times out of control job he had. His suicide sent my own depression and OCD out of control and I have had many attempts at taking my life and at therapy to save it. When I donated part of my liver to a Golden Fire Fighter in 2002, even then I was hoping my eyes would close forever. I wish the layers of mental health awareness would have been in place to save my Dad’s life. I wish there would have been more training in place to recognize that he was in trouble no matter how well he hid it. A buddy system if you will so that someone close to him would have seen the signs. Now there have been steps implemented for our first responders to not only recognize in their fellow responder a need for help but peer and department support for all who are in need. If we don’t take care of those who take care of us…we cannot expect them to be able to take care of us. Your donation no matter how big or small will make sure we are always able to take care of the balance in the life of those who have chosen a path only paved for heros….like my Dad.