Accept Sponsor Invitation: Never Walk Alone Annual 5k

Our mission with Never Walk Alone focuses on building a safe and welcoming environment for first responders, dispatchers, and our military. Through our cause, they can seek and create awareness around mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Never Walk Alone was born in 2015 after the tragic loss of City of Miami Firefighter Danny Alvarez to (PTSD). His dear friend Miami Beach Firefighter Claudio Navas wanted to honor his memory by walking the Miami Half Marathon in full bunker gear and a self-contained breathing apparatus tank. Danny was a runner and Claudio is a runner. Claudio felt this would be a special way to pay tribute to Danny’s memory, while symbolizing the pain those with post-traumatic stress experience daily.

This is more than just a walk... it is making sure that every step taken combats the stigma associated with PTSD in first responders. What was once something Danny’s close circle did to honor his memory, has now become a yearly promise made by more than 20 fire and police departments across Florida to raise awareness for PTSD. Some of our first responders have also served in the military and are combat veterans. What started as the effort of a single firefighter grew into something much greater.

In 2018, ten first responders joined him, and by 2019, more than 250 first responders from over 20 agencies participated in the Miami Half Marathon over the years. By 2024, our inaugural 5K event drew over 750 participants, raising awareness for post-traumatic stress among first responders, dispatchers, military personnel, healthcare workers, family, and friends joining our walk to change the conversation and make progress in this highly stigmatized topic which affects first responders daily.

Your support is key to helping our first responder, dispatch, and military communities. Never Walk Alone shines a light on mental health awareness by finding better ways to cope, making sure our brothers and sisters who are hurting know that they are not alone.

Our goal is to provide our community and their families the support, resources and education they need with tools for awareness, understanding and knowing when to seek help. 

Please consider contributing directly to the Never Walk Alone Team for their annual 5K walk, other educational initiatives, and support programs to bringing awareness to PTSD. Your kind and generous monetary sponsorship or donation will be used throughout the year to help local first responders and their families. By joining the fight and supporting our cause, you contribute to ensuring that our local heroes Never Walk Alone.