LI Correction Officer Runs 5 Marathons In 5 Days For Mental Health

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A Suffolk County correction officer embarked upon a mission aimed at saving lives — he ran five marathons in five days to mark Mental Health Awareness Month and highlight the unique challenges faced by law enforcement officers.

According to Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, Correction Officer Jeffrey Benaim ran a complete 26.2-mile marathon each day in each of New York City's five boroughs — a total of 131 miles — in five consecutive days.

Benaim then followed that up with a half-marathon in Suffolk County to bring his total to 144 miles for the week, he added.

His goal was to highlight the mental health needs of law enforcement officers and those in the military, Toulon said in a release.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the United States since 1949, to raise awareness about mental health and help fight stigma, provide support, educate the public, and advocate for policies that support millions of people nationwide affected by mental illness.

Also, NAMI said, law enforcement officers face higher rates of depression, substance abuse, burnout, PTSD, and anxiety than members of the general public.

"Statistically, more police officers die by suicide than they do in the line of duty," the release said.

Benaim's "extraordinary journey" was organized to raised funds; he heads up a non-profit organization, Project Patriot 22, which was created to raise suicide and mental health awareness and share the mental health benefits of physical fitness.

All money raised during Benaim's recent mission was donated to Reps for Responders, an organization that shares a similar mission to that of Project Patriot 22, Toulon said.

The goal of Reps for Responders to "improve the physical and emotional survivability skills of first responders so that they can make responsible decisions both on the job and in their personal lives," a release said.

"Jeff is a role-model for all members of law enforcement. His dedication to complete this ultimate test of physical fitness and determination shows everyone in uniform that they can survive even the toughest battles," Toulon said. "I thank him for bringing attention to the mental health of first responders."