OUR STORY
Because Those Who Serve Deserve to Heal
Every day, first responders answer the call—rushing into burning buildings, administering life-saving care, responding to desperate pleas for help, and walking headfirst into the unknown. They carry the weight of their communities, sacrificing their own well-being to protect others. But beneath the uniform, beyond the badge, and behind the calm voices on the radio, there is an unseen burden—a relentless storm of trauma, grief, and silent suffering.
For the founder, a former law enforcement officer, this crisis is deeply personal. Having served for over a decade, she has witnessed firsthand the toll that public service takes on first responders. She has seen colleagues struggle with the weight of the job, the unspoken pain that lingers long after a shift ends, and the devastating impact of untreated trauma. Through her own experiences, she recognized the urgent need for a proactive, place-based solution—one that provides support outside of employment structures and meets first responders where they are, before crisis strikes.
The statistics are staggering, but the reality is far worse. First responders are significantly more likely to suffer from PTSD, depression, and anxiety than the general population. More first responders die by suicide than in the line of duty. Firefighters witness the destruction of lives and homes, carrying the memories of tragedies that can never be erased. Paramedics battle the exhaustion of life-and-death decisions every day. 911 operators hear the fear, the desperation, and the final words of people in crisis—all while maintaining their composure to save lives. The weight of these burdens do not fade when the shift ends—it lingers, it festers, and too often, it becomes unbearable.
THE PULSE RENEWAL PROJECT IS NOT JUST A PLACE. IT IS A PROMISE. IT IS HOPE.
on April 29, 2024, Charlotte, NC, faced an unimaginable tragedy. What started as a routine operation ended in a devastating loss—four officers killed in the line of duty. The weight of that day still lingers, a wound that time cannot easily heal. First responders across the region stood in solidarity, grieving not just the loss of colleagues but of family. Officers, firefighters, paramedics, and 911 dispatchers responded with professionalism, but behind the scenes, the emotional toll was immense.
Then, just days later, Brent Simpson, an officer who had dedicated his life to serving his community, took his own life while on duty. His passing shattered those who knew him and deepened the grief of an already mourning first responder community. These losses did not just impact one agency or one department—they rippled across firehouses, hospitals, and dispatch centers, leaving behind a deep wound that no one could ignore.
THE IMPACT DID NOT FADE WHEN THE MEMORIALS ENDED. IT CONTINUES TODAY.
This is why the First Responder Wellness Center will be built—to fill the gap between what first responders need and what traditional employment-based support systems provide.
This is not just a facility. This is a lifeline. A place where first responders—those who give everything—can come to heal. This is a promise that no one will have to suffer in silence. It will be a space for law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and 911 communications professionals to receive the care they so selflessly provide for others.
Founded by someone who has worn the uniform, walked the beat, and witnessed the burden, the First Responder Wellness Center is more than a response—it is a revolution in first responder care. This center will be designed with an insider’s understanding of the challenges first responders face, ensuring that its services are practical, accessible, and tailored to their unique needs.
Once built in Mecklenburg County, the center will serve as a sanctuary, offering mental health counseling, peer support, fitness and wellness programs, and spiritual care—because true healing must address the whole person. Mind. Body. Soul.
But this vision does not stop here. The First Responder Wellness Center is the beginning of a movement—a commitment to changing how we care for those who dedicate their lives to us. This is about breaking the stigma, creating a culture of support, and ensuring that no first responder feels alone in their struggle.
To every first responder who has walked through fire—who has held the hand of a stranger in their final moments, who has carried the weight of too many tragedies, who has stood strong for others while feeling broken inside—this center is for you.
