The Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup relay is back for another year, bringing together emergency services personnel from across the globe to compete in the 120mile (approx. 193km) race from Baker, California to Las Vegas, Nevada.
The QPS first began participating in 2001 as the first Australian team to enter the relay. This year will see the organisation compete for its ninth time.
This year, 65 QPS members will take part in the event on April 5 and 6, putting their fitness and mental stamina to the test.
Among the participants is Detective Senior Constable Bree Sonter, an investigator at the Homicide Investigation Unit who looks forward to representing QPS.
"Baker to Vegas is important to me because it's a meaningful and unique way to honour our fallen officers halfway around the world," Detective Senior Constable Sonter said.
"Representation means something and I'm incredibly proud to be part of our QPS Team representing Australian police on an international stage whilst also honouring and remembering our fallen colleagues."
The relay first commenced in 1985 and is the largest event of its kind in the world, welcoming teams from the United States, Europe, South America, Canada and Australia.
Teams are grouped into 20 people, with the event's primary focus to promote comradery, physical fitness and mental wellbeing for those working within the law enforcement field.
Detective Senior Constable Sonter is looking forward to meeting other emergency services personnel from across the world.
"It's important to me to connect with fellow emergency service and first responders across the world because we all face the same trauma, challenges, exhilarating wins and devastating losses, including losses of loved colleagues no matter where we live and work," Detective Senior Constable Sonter said.
"To know someone halfway across the world is going through the same things you go through is heartening.
"I recently read an NYPD post about a fallen officer, and I think it sums it up - We call it 'the job' but it's more than that, it's a calling, you can make a difference, you can save a life. But it demands as much back, you may give your life.
"No other profession will give you as much or take as much. The thing that keeps us is that no one dies in vain."
To find out more about the Baker to Vegas event or to see how you can support the QPS officers participating, visit https://bakervegas.net/
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