Gallagher Bassett has announced its sponsorship of the inaugural Head to Head Fundraising Walk, which aims to support current and former Victoria Police officers living with mental-health issues.

The event will be held Oct. 1 to 23 and will see Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton and The Police Association Victoria (TPAV) Secretary Wayne Gatt walk a combined 1,000km from opposite sides of Victoria to raise more than $500,000 in direct support of the Victoria Police Provident Fund’s new Mental Health Fund.

The funding will be used to professionalise and expand the Retired Peer Support Officer (RPSO) program, a volunteer group that assists retired Victoria Police officers who may be suffering from mental-health issues, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance and alcohol abuse.  

“GB recognises the vital role that police officers undertake in our community,” said John McNamara, GB Australia CEO. “We’re honoured to be supporting such a worthwhile event and to help raise awareness of the unique challenges face by emergency workers, particularly the mental-health battles that they may experience.”