CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – The Back the Badge Fest was celebrated at the City Center in Champaign Friday night. The eighties rock band, Warrant, accompanied by Big Guns, performed a benefit concert for the 10-78 Foundation. More than 400 people attended the fundraiser, enjoying a silent auction and live music in support of the mental health of our law enforcement professionals.
Back The Badge Fest, arranged by Deputy Sheriff/Patrolman Matt Stuckey of Mahomet, is part of the 10-78 Foundation. This organization was formed in August 2020 as a private Facebook group page. Stuckey created the group to provide a forum for citizens to express support for the Champaign County law enforcement community. Back the Blue, Champaign County, supports law enforcement officers with gratitude and respect.
Stuckey states, “The event helped spread awareness of the difficulty law enforcement endures everyday in their jobs. We want every single law enforcement officer to know they are not alone, and their work is valued. We understand on the inside what it feels like to handle the hard calls every day.”
Stuckey hopes the organization helps remove the stigma of the need for mental health counseling for police and military men and women. He says the organization helps people in law enforcement share the things they see day-to-day with their jobs, and they find a safe place to decompress from their unique stressors.