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Weyburn constable has inspirational ‘Marathon’ experience

Newsmaker of the Year
Marathon Mental Health

By Sabrina Kraft

Const. Jeff Bartsch was selected as the Weyburn This Week's Newsmaker of the Year for 2016.
Republished from February 5, 2016
In an effort to raise awareness and funds for mental health, Const. Jeff Bartsch, a member of the Weyburn Police Service, will be running the full Saskatchewan Marathon, 42.2 kilometres, dressed in his police uniform.
“I am going to take a huge step for myself, for Weyburn, and for the Weyburn Police Service to endeavour with this marathon,” said Bartsch.
He said it was very important to himself to take on this event to help promote mental health awareness in the community.
The 38th annual Saskatchewan Marathon will be held in Saskatoon on Sunday, May 29. It features a marathon, half-marathon, 10-km race, five-km race and a Marafun program for children. Bartsch will be entered in the full marathon, competing in full police gear.
“Police officers often have to deal with our own mental health issues, as well as the mental health issues of everybody they deal with on a day-to-day basis,” said Bartsch. “I have had my own mental health struggles, dealing with anxiety and depression, and have found running to be a great boost to my own mental health.”
It is through running that Bartsch wants to help raise awareness and funds for mental health initiatives in Weyburn. He will be selling bracelets, which interested residents can purchase from the Weyburn Police Service or the Weyburn branch office of the Canadian Mental Health Association. His “Marathon for Mental Health” can also be found on Facebook, where he will post updates before the race.

Republished from June 3, 2016
When things got tough, Const. Jeff Bartsch kept on pushing, until he was able to finish the Saskatchewan Marathon in full police gear.
“It wasn’t easy, let me tell you. But when things got tough, I just thought of the mental struggles some people go through daily,” said Bartsch.
He crossed the finish line for the 42.2 kilometre Saskatoon Marathon at five hours, 45 minutes and 38 seconds.
The main goal of the race was to raise awareness and funds for the Weyburn branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Bartsch had trained everyday for the past eight or nine months for the Saskatoon Marathon.
Also, he had raised hundreds of dollars for his community through a GoFundMe page and by selling bracelets.
“This was such an inspirational experience for myself and I’m sure many others,” said Tasha Collins, executive director of the Weyburn CMHA.
“Jeff Bartsch is a champion for mental health, the awareness and funds he has raised for Mental Health is amazing. He has followers from Weyburn, throughout our province, country and in the states.”
“His efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination are motivating,” said Collins. “He certainly has raised the profile of mental health through his marathon campaign. CMHA Weyburn is very lucky to have such a champion in our corner.”

Republished from October 26, 2016
After completing another marathon, Const. Jeffery Bartsch continues to inspire others to find ways to have good mental health. The Weyburn constable participated in the Estevan Police Service half marathon on Oct. 4. The event raised funds to send a local youth to the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games.
“I thought this event would be pretty special to take part in,” said Const. Bartsch. The half marathon was an excellent way for him to support another police organization, plus also do something he loves.
Const. Bartsch truly enjoys running, and recently also trained for a two-day bike ride. For him, getting out on the road is an excellent way to take a quick mental health break from some of the stress of being a police officer.
There were 25 participants in the bike ride, with many of the participants who work in police services. Participants in the bike ride had the opportunity to honour fallen police and peace officer members.
Const. Bartsch was biking for RCMP Constable Derek Pineo, who he had trained with, who had died near Wilkie in 2012. “I had talked to his wife and family before embarking on the ride, and they were honoured that I was riding for him.”
The first leg of the tour took them to Watrous, then they continued into Regina. All of the officers took part in the annual Police and Peace Officers Memorial Day, which was held at the Legislature in Regina. The memorial is an annual event, held on the last Sunday of every September.