Broncos players swing for the fences to raise $120,000 for veteran mental health
NFL players try out their baseball skills during UCHealth's Healthy Swings event
Colorado Rockies players weren’t the ones hitting home runs at Coors Field on Wednesday.
A collection of nine Denver Broncos players and eight Colorado Springs media members took up the plate for UCHealth’s sixth-annual Healthy Swings home run derby on Wednesday, batting for donations to help veterans with mental health.
“It’s amazing to be able to come out here and be a part of UCHealth and come raise some money for military veterans,” Broncos wide receiver, Courtland Sutton, said after batting. “I’m just happy to be here.”
The friendly competition saw players and media attempting to hit as many baseballs as possible in a 90-second round. Each hit raised a $50 donation from UCHealth to the collaboration partners of Next Chapter, a suicide prevention and wellness program for Colorado veterans based out of Colorado Springs.
The top eight earners then went on to a second round, seeing who could raise the most money.
There were also spots on the field that, if hit, raised donations between $500 and $5,000.
Overall, the competition collected $120,000 for Next Chapter, with Sutton winning the competition with just over $34,000.
“High school was the extent of my baseball career,” Sutton laughed. “It’s not my cup of tea. Y’all got to see me swing and whiff at 60-miles-per-hour pitches, you wouldn’t want to see me at 100.”
All of the money went to UCHealth’s partner program, Next Chapter, a community collaborative formed in 2022 and funded by the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration that provides no-cost mental health treatment to veterans and veterans’ families throughout the state.
“We’re essentially formed to prevent suicide, intervene where addictions might be a problem and provide access to care that they can’t otherwise get,” retired Lt. Col. Damian McCabe, director of the Next Chapter program, said.
“For the last five years, Colorado has been one of the states with the highest rates of veterans suicides in the nation,” McCabe said. “What we can’t really identify is how many of those veteran’s family members are also in crisis or have to live post a suicide event.”
He added: “From a Colorado perspective, this is a top priority for healthcare.”
At the event were 25 veterans who have either supported Next Chapter or were recipients of mental health care. Some met with players for autographs. Some were able to lineup in the outfield to catch balls.
“Listen to this place,” McCabe said with cheers and laughs booming the background. “They’re out there living in glory right now and for a lot of them, not that long ago, there wasn’t much to look forward to in life.”
“This is amazing,” Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper said. “I couldn’t be more happy to be here.”
Cooper and Sutton were two of the eight Broncos taking up the bat. Along with them was Zach Allen, Pat Surtain II, Matt Henningsen, Baron Browning, Jaleel McLaughlin and Jarrett Stidham.
Former Broncos’ Super Bowl champion, Todd Davis, also made a guest appearance to swing.
“It’s such an awesome experience out here to help support and make money for Next Chapter. Watching this community come together is really something,” Army veteran Richard Sanchez said after he and his stepson met with Stidham for autographs.
Sutton noted the importance of the event, thinking toward the veterans in his family.
“I know how much time, body, mind, soul, everything they give to this country for us to be able to come out and do stuff like this,” he said. “I’m grateful for them.”
