Steppin’ up for firefighters
Walk across Manitoba raises funds for first responders dealing with mental health issues
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Andrew Cherkas deals with his mental health struggles one step at a time.
The 43-year-old firefighter lives with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the tragedies he’s witnessed on the job and contemplated suicide in 2021.
Since then, medication and therapy have helped him get to a better place. The daily walks he takes with his dog, Charlie, along the trails near his home south of Portage la Prairie, are also healing. No headphones, no music — just Cherkas, Charlie and the outdoors.

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Andrew Cherkas and his wife, Andrea, are aircraft rescue firefighters with Canadian Base Operators in Portage la Prairie.
Last spring, Cherkas came up with an idea to raise awareness and funds for first responders struggling with mental health issues. He launched Steppin’ in Support for 1977 earlier this month with the goal of walking across Manitoba while inviting people to donate to the Preston Heinbigner Memorial Fund.
The fund is named for the 40-year-old Winnipeg firefighter who was struggling with PTSD when he died by suicide last year. The memorial fund aids Manitoba firefighters who are seeking mental health support through the B.C. Fire Fighter Resiliency Program.
“It’s just really special to know they’ll have treatment they can access and they’ll have (the costs) covered,” says Cherkas, an aircraft rescue firefighter with Canadian Base Operators.
Steppin’ in Support for 1977 references Heinbigner’s Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service regimental number.
Cherkas started his walk at the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border on Sept. 10, with a goal of completing the 489-kilometre distance by Sept. 23.
One week and 292 kilometres in, leg injuries that left him in excruciating pain — including shin splints, a possible stress fracture and multiple blisters — forced him to stop.
Ten firefighters volunteered to finish the walk. When they divided the remaining 197 km, it worked out to a fortuitous 19.77 km per person.
Clyde McCallum and Mike Sudak of the Carberry North Cypress-Langford Fire Department were scheduled to complete the walk Sunday at the Manitoba-Ontario border east of Falcon Lake.

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Preston Heinbigner, his wife Shayda and their son Oslo.
Getting injured and having others finish the walk may have been a blessing in disguise, Cherkas says.
“It showed the solidarity of the fire service, which is what drew me to the profession,” he says. “Also, with those 10 people walking, it raised a lot more awareness about firefighter mental health and PTSD.”
Cherkas got a glimpse of how many firefighters struggle with their mental health after leaving the WFPS to work at Canadian Base Operators, a job he describes as less stressful.
After making the transition, Cherkas says multiple Winnipeg firefighters messaged him, sharing their mental health struggles and asking what it was like working in a different environment.
“I was kind of taken aback by how many people were struggling and had similar stories,” he says. “I didn’t realize it was as big of an issue.”
According to statistics from the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, the city’s 933 firefighters responded to nearly 154,000 fire and medical calls last year, making them among the busiest fire crews in Canada.
The WFPS lost 17,600 hours to psychological injury in 2024, says union president Nick Kasper — a statistic that highlights why Cherkas’ fundraiser is so meaningful.
“We couldn’t be prouder of Andrew and this initiative… Our hats are off to him and everyone who volunteered,” Kasper says. “This is going to ensure that (firefighters seeking help) have a long and healthy career.”

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Portage la Prairie firefighter Andrew Cherkas walked 292 kilometres across Manitoba as part of his Steppin’ in Support for 1977 fundraiser. When injury prevented him from completing the walk, 10 firefighters stepped in to finish it.
For Cherkas, it’s the latest endeavour in a history of community service that includes coaching his children’s sports teams, volunteering as a scout for the University of Manitoba Bisons women’s hockey program and fostering 19 dogs over the years.
“I guess it just makes you feel good — when you’re feeling crappy — to know you can make someone’s life a little better,” he says.
Cherkas invites people to contribute online at wfp.to/steppin.
If you know a special volunteer, email aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca.

Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. He was previously the associate editor at Canadian Mennonite. Read more about Aaron.
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