Firefighters running for A New Dawn

By Lethbridge Herald on March 21, 2026.

Herald photo by ALejandra PULIDO-GUZMAN LFES Platoon A chief and co-founder of A New Dawn Foundation, Shawn Folk alongside firefighters Kevin Bertero, Matthew Ferdinands, and Seth Thiessen showcase their Moonlight Run bibs Friday afternoon at CasaÕs Rotary Square.

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

Lethbridge Herald

A group of firefighters from Lethbridge Local 237 is participating in the Moonlight 10K run in firefighter gear to raise money and awareness for A New Dawn, a charity that helps people rebuild their lives after crisis, violence, and trauma.

Primary Care Paramedic firefighter Kevin Berteron and Advance Care Paramedic firefighters Matthew Ferdinands and Seth Thiessen will be running in full gear provided by the Coaldale Fire Department, which will add approximately 70 pounds of weight. 

Berteron shares they are picking up the torch that was passed on by a fellow firefighter that was part of their Platoon A, Edgar Ponce, who ran in full gear last year to raise funds and awareness for A New Dawn Foundation. 

“Edgar was a huge proponent of physical excellence, within our industry, in our workplace. So, we’re custodians of keeping that tradition alive,” says Berteron. 

He says they believe strongly in high physical standards, and this is one of those things that they do to maintain that. 

Ferdinands say that as a member of Local 237, he is extremely proud and excited to participate in the race to raise awareness and funds for A New Dawn Foundation. 

“I think this is an opportunity for us to give back to the community and the members that serve us so far, EMS, healthcare workers, nurses, military, and many more,” says Ferdinands. 

He says the race provides them an opportunity to show them that they “have their backs,” when they need them. 

“Hard things are done by teamwork, and this is an example of doing that for the community,” says Ferdinands. 

Thiessen shares that the Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services has a very tight-knit community, where there is a lot of support among them. 

“We support each other at work and off work, like after a call we talk at the kitchen table, we support each other that way,” says Thiessen.

 He says that to be able to raise funds for foundation to provide support in ways that they can’t, is also a huge opportunity for them, while also pushing their own boundaries and keeping that physical standard.

Co-founder and CEO of A New Foundation, Shawn Folk, who is also Platoon A chief, says this means a lot to him, not only as CEO of the foundation, but as a platoon chief to see members of his own platoon take on the challenge of running with full gear to raise funds and awareness for the foundation.

“It’s overwhelming how unselfish these guys are with their time, their thoughts, their efforts, and doing something to give back. And it’s one of those things where sometimes I’m just lost for words,” says Folk. 

He shares that it fills his heart to know that the guys are doing something like this for the foundation, which will benefit so many people. 

“And a new Dawn Foundation was built for filling in the gap between other services that are out there, that don’t really understand or have a good handle on what frontline workers actually do,” says Folk. 

He shares that through the foundation they are able to help first responders with personalized care, instead of a standard “one size fits all” approach, which sometimes is what is available to them through their workplaces. 

“We have a psychologist on board, we give financial support, spiritual support, and just support amongst ourselves, because sometimes we get overwhelmed by work, and those work programs, they’re good, they’re in place, but not one size fits all,” says Folk.

For more information on A New Foundation, and to find ways to help them, visit their website at https://anewdawnfoundation.com/.