Submitted photo 2B Continued Dancing Like the Stars dancers Elizaldo Acevedo and Tina Castillo of Fairfax pose after dancing at the Glencoe City Center Saturday. The two won the favorite costume contest. Twelve south central Minnesota couples and many donors helped raise nearly $400,000 for mental health awareness, advocacy and outreach.

FAIRFAX — Downtown Fairfax was full of parked motor vehicles Saturday night as two watch parties were held for the 2B Continued Dancing Like the Stars show.

The event with 12 couples at the Glencoe City Center and watch parties in a number of area communities raised more than $398,000 for mental health awareness, advocacy and outreach for 2B Continued, a non-profit organization created to prevent suicide and promote wellness.

Whitey and Josie Sanken of Brownton were dance show grand champions. Participants included Juan Elizaldo and Tina Castillo, Fairfax; Jacob and Stephanie Brandt, Gaylord, Todd and Courtney Breyer, Glencoe; Justin and Jessica Helget, St. Peter; and Brad and Angie Schugel, New Ulm.

“Honestly, we have all known someone who died by suicide as well as dealt with mental health issues. It is something we both feel very passionate about, bringing awareness to — especially to smaller communities surrounding us,” said Tina Castillo of Fairfax.

“It was great to see everyone give as well as receive encouragement from each other. Once you get involved in 2B Continued and the other couples, you realize it is so much bigger than us,” she said.

Dance show judges included Twin Cities Live reporter Kristin Haubrich who said she suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) when she was hit by a vehicle while training for a marathon at age 25.

“I was in a crosswalk when a car hit me. I never made it home from the training run. It flipped my world upside down. I had severe depression which goes along with TBI. At my lowest point, even with all my prescription pills, I thought about ending my life. Through God and prayer, I found a neurologist that offered an holistic approach and hyperbaric oxygen therapy that truly got me back to being me. Depression is a real mental disorder. You can’t tell just by looking at someone what they’ve been through and are struggling with. Together, we can offer hope to people struggling with mental health,” she said.

Fairfax Lions member Mary Jo Minter said Castillo owns a Fairfax bakery and is president of the Fairfax Civic & Commerce organization.

“The couple (Castillo and Elizaldo) is lots of fun. There’s lots of people here. The Lions Club supporting them and 2B Continued, which is such a good cause,” said Minter.

Retired Renville County Public Health Nurse Jill Bruns of Hector talked about mental health issues now.

“I think lots of people lost connections since the COVID pandemic. We’re still seeing effects of it. I don’t think we’ve ever really come back from it. That’s why gatherings like this are so important. It’s important to come together as a community again for everyone including children, the elderly, farmers and veterans,” Bruns said.

Fairfax Lions President Les Minter said Castillo helped it grow.

“The Lions were down to four people before Castillo helped revive it. She didn’t want the Lions to go away. The next thing we knew, there were more than 20 people in it,” said Minter.

Last year, more than 40,000 people were reached by 2B Continued programming including suicide prevention support groups, county fair booths and teenage mental health first aid training in 20 area school districts.

For more information, visit www.2bcontinued.org.