HOUSTON – A nonprofit organization, Fit First Responders, donated more than $100,000 in scholarships to the Houston Police Department after a Houston sergeant committed suicide at a police station on Friday.
The money was donated in an attempt to help prevent suicides.
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The nonprofit offers physical training, mental conditioning and professional counseling to police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and National Guard members.
FFR said its mission is to decrease the statistics of first responder suicide.
The organization's online platform, FFRonline.tv, provides first responders with daily workouts, nutrition coaching, healthy recipes, life coaching and information on how to become a part of a community of first responders where successes and problems can be shared privately on online forums.
“I am deeply saddened by the news of the Houston sergeant who took his life over the weekend," the FFR founder said. "My mission in life is to help these first responders be fit for life, overcoming all that life throws at them and being mentally strong enough to overcome and prevail. If we can save one life because of our program, my time on this earth was worth it."
FFR donated free online memberships for life for the entire Houston Police Department.
“Before Fit First Responders, there was not much to live for or much to work for. I was sad almost every day," Officer Alex Peiffer said. "I had a beautiful family right in front of me, but it’s like I didn’t even see them."
“We have a huge problem in our nation with our hometown heroes taking their own lives when they are supposed to be saving lives," the FFR founder said. “With everything going on in the world today, there is not a more crucial time than now for our first responders to be fit for duty and, most importantly, fit for life."