Local firefighter to do 10K Moonlight Run in full gear to help first responders

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on March 21, 2025.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

A local firefighter is raising funds for an organization that helps fellow first responders take care of themselves so they can continue to take care of others, by running in full gear Saturday night.
Edgar Ponce, fundraiser organizer and member of Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services, says he has been training for the last couple of months in preparation for the 10-kilometre run he will take part in while wearing full firefighting gear, which weights close to 60 pounds.
He’ll be running during the Moonlight Run in support of A New Dawn Foundation. The foundation is a charity that helps and supports families and first responders in Lethbridge and around southern Alberta. Ponce says the foundation helps first responders, including firefighters, paramedics, police officers, public safety communications centre, nurses, corrections officers and military personnel.
“I chose to run this in my fire gear because it’s very challenging,” he says. “I will be wearing an extra 60 pounds of weight on me along with that heat retention that you get with that fire gear throughout the 10 kilometres.”
Ponce wants to make it difficult because what first responders go through can be very challenging for them, and the charity supports them while they are going through difficult situations.
He expects the run will take a lot longer than a regular run, but he vows to get it done and has received a lot of support from community members already.
 “We are all in this together, and sometimes first responders see or do things on the job that the average person doesn’t see or do,” says Ponce. “So the fact that all these people are coming together to help raise funds for this charity means a lot to me.”
While he personally he has not needed the help provided by the foundation so far, he wants to give back to it because it is helping his fellow first responders.
“To say thank you to everyone who has donated by the time I run, I will be caring a flag from A New Dawn Foundation with every single donor’s name on it, no matter the amount donated, so they can cross the finish line with me.”
With a goal of $3,000 on his GoFundMe campaign, Ponce says even though the event will be taking place on Saturday, the link will continue to be available for a while and names will continue to be added to the flag.
Shawn Folk, CEO and co-founder of A New Dawn Foundation, and LFES Platoon Chief of Platoon A, said the foundation was formed in the summer of 2019 after the passing of his wife Dawn, after a long battle with cancer.
“We have a support system in place that helps not only physically but emotionally and spiritually, people that are in dire straits,” says Folk. “We also help their spouses and the children of their families.”
He says they have partnered with Lethbridge Therapy Ltd. to offer local heroes and their loved ones the counselling and therapy service they deserve.
“We also help people if they need a cane or a wheelchair, or they need some money quickly because nobody plans for emergencies,” says Folk.
He points out that people have insurance for their health or life insurance, for their homes and vehicles, but most don’t stash away money for their well-being.
“And part of the reason is because we’re so busy as first responders taking care of everyone else, we easily neglect ourselves,” says Folk.
The foundation helps them take care of themselves so they can continue taking care of those who need their help.
 “An example, one of our members in our department had to rush one of their children to the hospital in Calgary and nobody prepares for that. So, what we have raised funds and we got him some money so he could get up to Calgary, some gas money, get a hotel and get some food while their lives are being turned upside down.”
He says as first responders, they bring order to chaos and when the first responders’ lives are in chaos the foundation and fellow first responders try to help their colleagues by bringing order to their lives.
Those interested in helping Ponce reach his goal can donate online at https://www.gofundme.com/f/firefighter-10k-for-a-new-dawn-foundation
Ponce will begin and end his run at Casa located at 230 8 Street South. The start time is 8 p.m. and he is hoping to be back to the finish line by 9 p.m.

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