Blue Tie Gala Event Aims To Help First Responders Overcome Trauma, Addiction

In a profession where the daily grind involves witnessing traumatic incidents, first responders often struggle with the unseen wounds of their service.

The Leon Bench Foundation, founded in honor of a fallen Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper, is working to support these brave men and women as they navigate the challenges of mental health and addiction.

According to a National Survey on Drug Use and Health, up to 29% of firefighters engage in alcohol abuse, while 10% may be abusing prescription drugs. Even more alarming, it's estimated that 30% of first responders develop behavioral health conditions like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder during their careers.

"If you look at on the civilian side, a civilian will experience one to 1.7 critical incidents in their lifetime before a trooper or firefighter EMS workers, the number is 300," explains Ken Stafford, a former Oklahoma Highway Patrolman and the driving force behind the Leon Bench Foundation. "And so our guys and gals struggle with that in so many different ways, and so the foundation has been formed to offer support to them and to help them as they walk through those, those trying times in their lives."

Stafford, who experienced his own struggles with trauma after retirement, emphasizes the importance of removing the stigma around seeking help.

"Several years ago, it was taboo to even raise your hand and say, I need help. And so what we're doing through the Bench Foundation is to try to get rid of that stigma, and allow guys and gals to come forward and say, hey, you know, I need help," said Stafford.

To support first responders in need, the Leon Bench Foundation hosts an annual Blue Tie Gala, a fundraising event that brings the community together. This year's gala is scheduled for October 3rd at the Patriot Golf Club in Owasso, Oklahoma, and will feature a live auction, a keynote address by the Secretary of Public Safety for Oklahoma, Tricia Everest, and the return of emcee Lori Fulbright.

"It's a fundraiser. There'll be a live auction. The Secretary of Public Safety for Oklahoma, Tricia Everest is our keynote speaker, and it's going to be just an amazing evening with a lot of fun, a lot of good people, and we love to have people come out and support the foundation," Stafford says.

Those interested in attending the Blue Tie Gala or supporting the Leon Bench Foundation's mission can visit the organization's website at benchfoundation.org to purchase tickets and make donations.

By coming together as a community, people can help ensure that the brave men and women who put their lives on the line for our safety have the resources they need to overcome the challenges they face.