Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Episode 14 – Cops Fighting Cancer
2 Plays1 second ago
Jim Seneca was just beginning his career in law enforcement in 1987 when a routine doctor’s visit changed everything. What he thought was the flu turned out to be leukemia—and with only a 30% chance of survival, the odds were stacked against him. Jim fought through, recovered, and went on to serve with the Aurora Police Department. Out of his experience, he founded Cops Fighting Cancer, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting children facing the same battle he once endured. In this episode, Jim shares his journey, the impact of Cops Fighting Cancer on families in crisis, and how Colorado law enforcement unites each year to bring hope and joy to children in the hospital.
If you want to donate to Cops Fighting Cancer, please visit their website at https://copsfightingcancer.org
Do you have questions? We want to answer them. Send us an email to CommunityConnections@AdamsSheriffCO.gov
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Officer Seneca's Background
00:00:20
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of Breaking and Adventuring, where we look in the life of the Adams County Sheriff's Office and beyond. We're going to share the background stories and experiences of the men and women of the Adams County Sheriff's Office and the greater law enforcement and public safety community.
00:00:35
Speaker
I'm your host, Commander Adam Sherman, and with me today is Officer James Seneca from the Aurora Police Department, so I appreciate you being here. um And we're just going to take a closer look at just his law enforcement journey and then also into a huge event that he ah puts on every year called the Long Blue Line. So as we get started, just you want to tell us a little bit about your background, how you got into law enforcement.
00:00:56
Speaker
Sure. i can I can talk, hopefully condense it, 38 years of my life in about 15, 20 minutes. There you go. We'll do a cliff notes version. We'll do my best. So Yeah, I'm originally from Buffalo, New York, so go Bills. so um yeah, I was in two weeks in academy in Buffalo, New York in 1987, and I thought I had the flu, and lo and behold, I had leukemia. so Oh, my gosh. Yeah, it was it was like got hit with a hammer and just...
00:01:21
Speaker
You just think it's it's not real. It's a bad dream. And, you know, so I was in the best shape of my life. I was 26 years old at the time. Yeah. You seem like, you know, impenetrable at that age. And well, you know, I was in probably the best shape. I was 215 pounds. I was just, just killing it ah physically. So, and I just, you know, I just didn't feel right. I thought I had the flu or some kind of bug that I couldn't get rid of and went to my doctor and he sent me across the street and he says, you got to go across the street. and i'm like, that doesn't sound normal. So,
00:01:48
Speaker
You know, they did some tests and lo and behold, like I said, was in shock that I had acute myocytic leukemia and my chances of survival were 30%. So when you hear all these things and you're, it's just going a hundred miles an hour and, um,
00:02:04
Speaker
I was not happy that that happened to me. So, you know, I had to fight it with everything I had and, you know, went through six months of chemotherapy and you hear all these horrific stories and you got to go back 38 years ago.
00:02:19
Speaker
So when they tell you chances are only 30%, I'm like, wow, that's not very good chances. But you know I took it on like a fighter and um and went down 165 pounds and lost a lot of weight, about
Career Journey and Move to Colorado
00:02:34
Speaker
50, 60 pounds. And then you're living with the uncertainty and all these complications and You know, you're not sure if you're going survive or make it, but I got through it because of my friends and family. And um after a year of not being inactive, and then I gained, then I went up to 255 pounds.
00:02:53
Speaker
And then I had then i to lose all that weight. So I started losing weight and i got back into shape. And then two years later, I did a half marathon. Oh, that's amazing. So I got back on a job and got back healthy. And then I was there at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority for six and a half years. And that was my dream to come out here to Colorado. And lo and behold, I got called by the Aurora Police Department in July 1995. And then I started Academy in August 1995. I've been here 30 That's incredible. Wow.
00:03:25
Speaker
Were they the first ones to call you back? Like when were putting out some applications? or or did you Or did you always want to go? my Yeah, I was always in back of my mind. in early 80s, I applied for Boulder, and that didn't work out in 83 and 84.
00:03:37
Speaker
And then I got get on a job in Buffalo and then you know stayed there for six and a half years. I got promoted. But I was always in the back of my mind to come out here.
00:03:48
Speaker
Yeah, go west, young man. Yeah, and I did, and I did. That's
Founding of Cops Fighting Cancer
00:03:51
Speaker
awesome. And then I came out here, and like I said, it's been 30 years later. And then um I was working in in the city attorney's office doing serving subpoenas for our police department, and i read this article about a little girl that had cancer, and I just i was just totally, i mean, as you know, and I think everybody knows, I'm an emotional guy, and I was so heartbroken.
00:04:13
Speaker
it was a heart-wrenching story about a little girl named Brianna. And I just like, I got to do something. I got to help this little girl. And we put our first, first fundraiser together in August of 2003. So, okay. So that kind of got the ball rolling, rolling with cops fighting cancer and stepping back a little bit in December of 2002, we started going to go into children's hospital in Denver. And that's when it was in Denver and Adams County was there. Adams County has been,
00:04:40
Speaker
barbara barrrow They've been with us for the past 23 years. It's going to be our 23rd year coming up in December. And, um yeah, it started out with something small. and And, you know, I bought some stuffed animals. I got those donated, some coloring books, crayons.
00:04:58
Speaker
And we just started going to Children's Hospital in Denver. And a couple of departments were there. And the word spread. Other departments, Jeffco, like you guys were there. Denver got involved. And other departments got involved.
00:05:11
Speaker
And that was in December of 2002. And then we started ah officially Cops Fighting Cancer was born in August of 2003 when we did that fundraiser for Brianna. And today she's and she's a nurse.
00:05:22
Speaker
And she's she's a miracle as well. That's incredible. Wow. Well, then that brings me to a question I had a little bit later, but like, what did that first year look like? You know, the kind of the challenges and, you know, here you are, you're on the job, you're doing that, but also you have this passion project on the side, like, or some of the kind of the challenges, but also some of the victories you saw. Well, you know, like I said, when I talked about it, it started out small and I got bigger and bigger and more people wanted to get involved in more departments. And then we just had expanded. So I just try to think of ideas to make it Cooler and just kind of um mostly obviously for the kids, just to make it special for the kids, make them feel special.
00:05:58
Speaker
ah You know, we changed from coloring books and crayons and stuffed animals to getting toys donated. And that was a challenge. Like you said, challenges, picking up four or 5,000 toys yeah at 20 different locations was a challenge.
00:06:13
Speaker
So getting donations, that we just seem to grow and and just trying to make it, you know, we got sponsors on board and and just trying to make it special for the kids. And, you know, it was in the beginning, we were able to visit with the kids.
00:06:27
Speaker
And, you know, as COVID hit, we couldn't visit with the kids. And that was a, you know, a bummer for everybody. But, You know, you got to protect the kids. They're our first priority. But, you know, it just evolved from getting small group of officers in the beginning.
00:06:43
Speaker
it just got bigger and bigger. And it became a long blue line. Just this
The Long Blue Line Event and Traditions
00:06:48
Speaker
long blue line. You know, we have breakfast in the morning, as you know. And then we have some festivities and just some ceremonies and just some fellowship and just getting together and just, you know, we don't normally get together with other departments. So it just kind of, it's just, it's just, it's pretty cool to be able to do that and talk about, Hey, what are you doing over here in Adams County? Oh, what you doing in Arapahoe County? So it really brings all those departments together and people together for the sake of the kids at Children's Hospital.
00:07:18
Speaker
Yeah. And just an experience I've seen, usually if we do have to come together like that, it's giant crisis, right? And you know, we're here, we're kind of scrambling agency assisting. So be able to come in a lighthearted environment, then also welcome in, you know, families of maybe some of the kids who were, might've been in the hospital the year prior and things like that, or just other, and and the donors and just, ah you know, the private businesses to all be a part of that and be,
00:07:41
Speaker
more of a joyous occasion and celebratory is huge. i mean Exactly. And that's how it's evolved over the past 23 years. Like I said, on on the December 4th of this year, we'll be our 23rd annual.
00:07:53
Speaker
We start at breakfast at Bueller companies. ah They've been a sponsor for, I'm going on five or six years and they, yeah, They just just embrace it. it's It's their project.
00:08:04
Speaker
I just tell them what we need. They take care of it. I don't have to worry about that part. And they just make it special for the officers. We have breakfast in the morning. My friend, George Beal, he's the chef. He takes care of all that.
00:08:16
Speaker
um We have a coffee company. We have a donut ah donation as well. What? Yeah, donut. So we'll talk about that story as as you know. That's weird. yeah It won't be so weird in a couple of minutes. Okay. But, you know i you know, I think through my head, I'm like, how can we make this even more fun?
00:08:33
Speaker
Yeah. we got breakfast. We have a ceremonial roll call. And about five or six years ago, I said, why don why not a donating contest? It sounds logical to me. You know, so you get a nice little trophy, as you know. um ah It's a coffee cup with ah with handcuffs and a coffee mug and donut.
00:08:51
Speaker
yeah so And they get a gift certificate as well of their choice. And then um we kind of changed the rules a little bit, but it's last couple of years, whoever can eat five large donuts in five minutes is a winner. So, um but it's it's fun. It's people rally and they're screaming and yelling and,
00:09:10
Speaker
it's just It's just a great event, a very humbling event. Once we finish with that, then we have a roll call, and then we line up, and then it's probably two miles long, long blue line of officers going to Children's Hospital.
00:09:24
Speaker
Yeah. And it's great seeing, and again, too, when you see kind of ah a long line like that, it's usually something negative, a procession or funeral or something. So again, to have a celebratory is is great and fulfilling, at least, you know, in my experience. So, and I'm i'm sure a lot of people share that, but also too, like,
00:09:41
Speaker
We've on our end, like I'll have people reach out like, Hey, can I bring, you know, this specialized vehicle? Can I, you know, we have one guy who loves bringing out our giant court bus and it's like, and you've always been like,
Adapting to COVID and Fundraising Challenges
00:09:52
Speaker
absolutely. The more the merrier. Not the prisoners. word We're okay with it. Yeah. Yeah. Leave the prison. You know, all the inmates can stay at jail or court.
00:09:59
Speaker
Uh, but yeah, even, you know, some of the, some of the turns are a little tight and it's like, Hey, you know what we've, we've got it. And, and seeing people even like, you know line the roads or the pull over and just wave because they, you know hear about it, advertise that it's happening. It's just a great way for people to just be a part of something special. well As you know, it' said it's a great event. We come there, we come together, we can tell jokes and laugh and not worry about our back yeah when you have 250 cops in that one room. So I don't think you're worried about your back. So, um, it's just, it's just,
00:10:27
Speaker
I get emotional every year. I mean, this will be our 23rd year. I'm trying to hang on for 25 years. That's two more years. That would be amazing if I could do that. But, um you know, like I said, with COVID, that really ah created some challenges because we were we were able to visit with the kids. And that was such a humbling experience. And I've had tough...
00:10:49
Speaker
hard-nosed cops come to me when they went up to and visit with the kids years ago and said, Jim, I can't do this anymore because I can't see these sick kids. And it's very humbling. And I've seen many, many sick kids.
00:11:01
Speaker
And so coming from donating toys and crayon books and crayons and stuffed animals to... COVID was a blessing and and in one way. It's hard to believe, but they kind of strayed away from the toys because they didn't want the contamination and that sort of thing.
00:11:20
Speaker
So we get donations and we gather, we we raise about $9,000 in donations. And each child gets a $25 gift card. So we present the hospital with a nice gift box with $350, $25 gift cards.
00:11:37
Speaker
So each child gets a $25 gift card. So that saves us from running around the city and Denver metro area at 20 locations to pick up four or 5,000 toys. So that was great idea.
00:11:51
Speaker
Yeah. So yeah, it's such a great event, but even just, yeah, as you grow, I'm just like logistically, like, man, this is, well, this is, where do we store all these toys? So yeah, the transitioning to the gift cards is nice. I have the template.
00:12:06
Speaker
You know, people ask me all the time, well, what happens if you retire? I'm like, you know, it would be nice for someone to pick up the torch. yeah Someday I have the template. It's not that hard. um So if I do retire someday, i would hope that somebody would take the torch and continue this this ceremony.
00:12:22
Speaker
But I'm pretty sure, i'm ah I'm positive, there's no other ceremony like it in the state. And I'm pretty sure it's probably probably one of the largest events in the country. Yeah, I'll tell you, just being in the mix, it gets a little competitive at the roll calls of who can help the most people, who can be the loudest and most unique. And ah so it's a lot of fun.
00:12:39
Speaker
that's that's it's It is a fun, and that's the whole idea is to feed you, have some fun, and just some laughs, and then just go to the hospital and bless these kids with some happiness.
00:12:51
Speaker
Yeah, and it's it's one of those events where you know we deal with so much stuff as first responders that, you know whether it's negative or just hard to hard to deal with and understand that's that's one of those events that kind of really fulfills your your your cup of your purpose of why we got into this field in the first place. We changed it to Joe Bumberger Long Blue Line event. We changed it about five or six years ago.
00:13:13
Speaker
Joe worked in our traffic unit. He played an intricate part in putting this together. And unfortunately, about five or six years ago, he died in his sleep. He passed away. But at his funeral, it was brought to my attention that he loved this event.
00:13:27
Speaker
He put a lot of heart and soul into this event. So it was a no-brainer for me to say it's still the Long Blue Line event, but technically it's the Joe Bumberger Long Blue Line event, so we can remember Joe in his memory every year.
00:13:41
Speaker
Absolutely. i get to see his name every time I glance out my window and there's a beautiful trophy sitting there. Right, right. yeah So why don't you tell her our viewers about your... well I mean, this is a champion of champions of donating content. Well, ah in my in my youth a couple years ago, i was... ah You have wonderful greeters over at Bueller's. So I came in and they were just like...
00:14:01
Speaker
you can enter the contest. I was like, ah, sure. So I put my name down and, uh, sure enough. Yeah. Get matched up. And here's these giant cake donuts that, you know, a little bit more hearty than your, your, some of your other donuts.
00:14:13
Speaker
So then, got a little daunting, but yeah, just perseverance and, I didn't train at all, which is surprising, but I try to embody my full Joey chest. I can tell I wanted the trophy. Yeah. I wanted the trophy and ah maybe, maybe the gift card to add a little incentive, but, ah but yeah. And then of course, even internally. So after, so I won in 2022, so I got, I got my trophy and it sits in my office.
00:14:36
Speaker
ah Then even internally with our agency, more people came out the following year. Cause they're like, i want it. I want to win. going to beat you. And I'm like, all right. So then I gave it a shot in 2023 and ended up losing. Uh, I think it was a Denver officer that took it down here and he smoked us.
00:14:51
Speaker
So that's where was like, okay, I'm out of my league. I'm, I'm done. And then last year's,
Impact Stories and Community Bonds
00:14:56
Speaker
I think but were were over two tables. Uh, and they're, I mean, the science now guys are smashing and they're just trying to really get into the molecular content of the donuts so they can adjust them quicker and quicker. Yeah. I got to keep an eye on them because they, you know, start dipping them in water, but it just, it just, like you said, we had, we had to have two stages of this contest. So it's fun. It's, it's, it's hilarious.
00:15:19
Speaker
It's, it's, it's a good time. So that's just part of what we do. Right. And it's one of those things where, you know, cause my, my kids sometimes be like, Oh, are you, you love donuts because you're cop? I'm like, hey, everybody loves donuts. Like, of course, like, why not? So that's a great way to show it Like I said earlier, we're always looking for donations. You can go to our website at copsfightingcancer.org.
00:15:39
Speaker
I mean, this vent usually costs between $10,000 and $15,000 put together. george like Like I said, George Beal, he puts on that spread for breakfast. donate Donuts are donated.
00:15:51
Speaker
um so But we can always use donations for the gift cards. yeah And you can go to our Facebook page or our website, like I said, at copsfightingcancer.org. Awesome. Yeah, well, I'm going cross off that question for later.
00:16:03
Speaker
Um, so now, so the long blue line now talks a little about just cops fighting cancer. Cause I also had another, ah personal experience with that where, um, know, when there are lawfuls and officers who are, uh, dealing with chemotherapy and their families, what does cops fighting cancer do for them?
00:16:19
Speaker
Well, you know, we'll get calls or I'll use a children's hospital, for example. And it's very heart wrenching when you get phone calls from children's hospital, when families, uh, their children pass away and they can't afford a funeral.
00:16:31
Speaker
So they reach out to me and they'll say, officer Seneca, can you help this family? And I said, sure. um You know, we have some donations that, you know, can go towards their funeral.
00:16:45
Speaker
It can go towards, you know, maybe some utilities, some basic medical costs. um But, I mean, the sky's a limit. I mean, it just, we never have enough money. We never have enough donations to help all these families.
00:16:58
Speaker
We gear towards families in Colorado, but if you're from out of state and you're being treated at children's hospital or university or anything anywhere else in Colorado, we can help you as well.
00:17:10
Speaker
But, ah you know, our donations range from 800 to a thousand dollars um depending on our, our fund. Yeah. But um yeah, I mean, every story is different. Every situation is different.
00:17:24
Speaker
There are and all these stories are heart wrenching, but especially when it comes to kids. Yeah. Do you have any that stand out? So you mentioned your first one where now she's a nurse herself, ah yeah but do you have any other standout ones? or Well, Breanna Roberts from Roar, she, she stands out.
00:17:38
Speaker
She's a miracle. She probably should have never got through her, her cancer. She had a rare form of cancer, but she got through it. And lo and behold, she'll be 26 years, 26 years old in December.
00:17:52
Speaker
And she's a nurse. Yeah. So, I mean, David Hernandez, he's a nurse. he His situation looked pretty bleak, so he's a nurse. Brianna Roberts, or not Brianna, Brianna Roberts I mentioned earlier, but a young lady from Greeley, um her name was Brianna, and she she was just special. I don't know what it was but about her. if She was just...
00:18:14
Speaker
you know, very special. um All these kids are special, but some of them stand out. um McKenna is is is another one that's special. I could go on and on and on, but how I look at it, it's so humbling.
00:18:29
Speaker
And you or I, mostly you, I mean, if you maybe meet a few people in your lifetime that had cancer that are pretty special, but I've met hundreds and hundreds of people not only kids, but adults that are just extraordinary, yes just so strong, so not willing to give up.
00:18:49
Speaker
And you see that and you get to meet them and like, wow. And they adopt you as as a family member. Yeah. And how amazing is that? That it and I'm able to experience that every year. Yeah, and it sounds like you you have relationships with a lot of these families still or at least have contact. I do. I try to keep in touch with them, but, good you know, with life being so busy. But, I mean, I'll run into people randomly yeah in a restaurant or something like, hey, Officer Seneca, do you remember me? I'm like, kind of, sort of, remind you know, remind me.
00:19:15
Speaker
And it's it's someone who we helped years ago. Yeah. So that happens all the time. Yeah. you know um Yeah, it's it's been a great journey. Maybe someday I'll write a book about all these great stories. There go. um But yeah, it's just been extraordinary. I can't even say.
00:19:32
Speaker
And even just that ah brought up another memory of just you usually have a family come in too right before we do the kickoff. And everybody just gives them love, puts hands on each other, puts hands on, just sends them all the the good vibes and loves and prayers that we can.
00:19:47
Speaker
Um, and, and that just, even in the moment seems to be so impactful for them and their family that are there. know, each year we try to look at it differently. And in the last couple of years, we had our, um, mounted division, um, come up with an idea, not our rural police de department We don't have a mounted division, but someone came to me and they said, Hey, how about us being part of this procession and, and the horses and that sort of thing. So,
00:20:11
Speaker
That has evolved as well. So every for the past three years, we have mount mounted divisions from across Denver metro area, from Arapahoe County, Denver, all the different localities.
00:20:23
Speaker
And um so when we arrive at the hospital, they are there waiting for us on their horses. And they have little ponies and that sort of thing. So it just added a different dimension and just, I didn't know what to expect, but when we we seen them, when we pulled up, just...
00:20:41
Speaker
It looks great. And, and even as, as we arrive, you know, you've got usually a line of families and kids kind of out by the front entrance, but then of course you look up and just see all the faces smiling, waving in the windows.
00:20:52
Speaker
um What do you hope the takeaway is for, for the kids and the and families that, that are seeing all this as, as we approach. and Well, besides our their, their $20 gift card, just, just right in their day, you know, as we all know, it's not fun being in hospital period.
00:21:06
Speaker
It's definitely not fun being in hospital around Christmas time. So that's how it all started 20, 23 years ago. So, you know, if we can just bring, bring these kids a little joy and a little inspiration, then it's all worth it.
00:21:18
Speaker
That's what it's all about. Um, well, mean, do you have a special message for kids and families, uh, that they can take away from this event? Um, you know, cause I know now we can't talk to each and every one of them, but you know, if, if any of are watching this or in the future, you have a special message for them that you'd like to say, i think, I think just that that we care that we we I think every officer that goes there every year cares that's why we do what we do as officers that's why we we go to this event every year to try try to brighten their day and make them happy and just bring a smile to their face um and and just if we have a chance to meet them that's even more special so
00:21:55
Speaker
We're hoping to get back in the lobby. I'm not sure if you were there years ago when we had our ceremony lobby and we had about 20 to 25 bagpipers lead the way. So that's something I'm working on as well. So hopefully that'll happen. But I think visiting with the kids as a whole with 250 officers probably not going to happen because of COVID because want to bring, because there's going to be, you know, there's flu season and COVID and that sort of thing. i So I don't think that's going to happen.
00:22:22
Speaker
But even if we can just get in in inside the lobby, yeah i would I would be happy. That'd be a huge win. um Now, what advice, personally, and from putting on this event for 20 years, would you give to somebody who's facing a tough diagnosis or a tough challenge?
Advice and Future Plans
00:22:37
Speaker
Would you want to? Well, personally, just, i mean, you take a day at a time. I mean, i think that that's part of my calling, too, is to be an inspiration to people and kids and share my story and my testimony and say, you know what, um um I shouldn't be here.
00:22:51
Speaker
You know, we like we talked about earlier, my chances of survival, We're only 30%, but I'm still here after 38 years later. So, I mean, it's gotten better.
00:23:02
Speaker
It's not as bad. It's not as difficult as it was years ago, ah like the story I told. But um just day at time, miracles happen, and ah you just hope and pray for the best.
00:23:13
Speaker
and and And a lot of times i wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for my friends and family. And that's when your friends and family come to the forefront and support you and love on you and ah do whatever they can to help you get through this journey.
00:23:27
Speaker
Yeah, ah absolutely. And you don't have to walk this journey by yourself. And I tell people that, you know, because I get people, I don't want any help. I don't need your help, but this and that. And that's okay. But there's people out there willing to help you and support you.
00:23:39
Speaker
Yeah. And a lot of them have walked that journey. So you know, it's like having a guide. They can just help you and as you're, as you're exactly processing and dealing with everything. Well, how are things going for preparation for this year? Um, it's, uh, I'm going to kick it into gear yeah pretty soon. So it's, you know, there's certain things that I got to do and update some things, but, uh, I think we, uh, we'll definitely reach out for more donations and gift cards. We never have enough.
00:24:03
Speaker
So, um, yeah, it's, it's not, I'm not going to say i can do it in my sleep, but yeah I'm not that confident, but you know, i have the template, like I said, yeah so I know what I got to do. i know what I got to send out.
00:24:13
Speaker
I'll send out that email to all my contacts and all the different departments and ah One of my goals, every goal every year is 40 agencies. We've come close. I think last year we had 32, but my goal every year is to reach that 40 number. I don't know why it's, it's 40, but if we can reach 40 year, 40, 40 agencies,
00:24:36
Speaker
I think I've, I don't know why it just, it's a lot of agencies. It's a good benchmark. Yeah. Come on, everybody jump in, jump in the pool. It's the water's fine. Yeah. It's a lot of fun. Yeah. So it's just, I mean, it it's been difficult because the shortages and COVID and all these things. But I just tell agencies, just send me, send me one officer, ah send me one car.
00:24:56
Speaker
That's all I'm asking. and And most do, but you know, manpower issues are difficult, but um that's my goal this year. So we'll probably reach between 35 and 40 agencies this year.
00:25:06
Speaker
Nice. That's hopefully we exceed that, but yeah, that'd be great goal. That's the plan. Well, what legacy do you hope this work will leave behind for both law enforcement and the families that have, that have experienced the benefit from this?
00:25:18
Speaker
I think as a, as a whole, I think officers are giving, I'm not saying I'm a special guy. I'm not saying I'm a giving guy. It's just because of my experience. That's why I'm passionate about what I do. so um there's many officers besides myself. I know some of your officers in your department, you know, when we helped Caden and they reached out to me about honoring Caden to make him an honorary Adams County Sheriff's deputy. So, you know, so I'm one of many, I am not just the only one.
00:25:49
Speaker
Officers are very giving, Uh, it just shows people a different side of us, you know? I mean, yeah, but sometimes we have to arrest people or do things ah because of their behavior, not because our behavior, because their choices.
00:26:03
Speaker
So I think it just shows people a different side. And, um like I said, I could, I could step away tomorrow, but I think we fulfilled many dreams and I think we fulfilled, uh,
00:26:15
Speaker
I think we we made a lot of positive strides and in what we were doing for the past 23 years. so I agree. i mean, i've and I've had friends ah within our agency, and I know you've had within your own, and some neighbors who've, you know, just even the comfort of getting a blanket donated for when they're sitting through chemotherapy and just...
00:26:33
Speaker
just knowing that there's an army of people supporting them as they're sitting through some of those treatments. And that was another problem because I deal with the senior population. You know, we had 600 handmade quilts made.
00:26:43
Speaker
So we give those quilts away to cancer survivors or cancer patients. So, I mean, that's just a little gift that we can give them. yeah And we when we go to hospitals, that's what we give them.
00:26:54
Speaker
That's incredible. Just a special gift for them. That's awesome. Well, ah you mentioned it. um So, you know, people can get involved. Now, obviously through donations, can they get involved with if we have like a a sewing group? Could they donate quilts or things like that? or quilt pro or we kind of stepped away from the healing quilt program because we have a quilting bee in Aurora.
00:27:15
Speaker
but we still have some left, but, uh, we are 501 C three nonprofit.
Broader Impact and Final Message
00:27:20
Speaker
So, um, they can go to our Facebook page, cops fighting cancer, or they can go to our website, cops fighting cancer.org and donate there.
00:27:29
Speaker
Um, like I said, going to be on a campaign coming soon to get more donations for, our gift card campaign. So, yeah I mean, like I said, it's about $9,000. And just to put this event on together is about between 10 and $15,000.
00:27:44
Speaker
And like you mentioned too, you're not just benefiting the Aurora police department or kids within the city of Aurora. These kids are coming from all over our state, all over Colorado, out of state. So that, that donation just, the, the impact just reverberates all through the entire community. Right. And we, it's not just, like you said, not just Aurora, it's the Denver metro area. We've helped people down in grand junction down South, up in, up in the mountain areas.
00:28:08
Speaker
I mean, as far as, uh, East Burlington, that area. So, I mean, Cancer does not discriminate. It doesn't matter where you live. But like I said earlier, we are only able to help people ah living in Colorado or being treated in Colorado at the time.
00:28:26
Speaker
I guess, and circle back to, was there anything that you learned in your career that kind of prepared you for either your own ah healing journey ah or or supporting others? I mean, anything from like the law enforcement side, because I know we teach on just mindset, resilience, to any of that, did you lean on any of that? I think people that have a misconception about law enforcement officers that they're not compassionate. And that's, that's not true.
00:28:48
Speaker
We do yeah what we do because we are compassionate and and empathetic. Some, some more than others. But, you know, my journey just happened to be that I got cancer and I happened to become a police officer. So they kind of went ah side by side.
00:29:04
Speaker
So I think it just, like I said, it just shows the public a different side of who we really are. Yeah, no, you're absolutely right. And what a great way to showcase that for such a great cause. Thank you.
00:29:14
Speaker
I appreciate you being here. appreciate guys. Thanks for coming out. And we look forward to just hearing from James that they've just been overwhelmed with donations and and with agencies participating. So hopefully everybody out there ah can get involved. So remember, go to the Cops Fighting Cancer social media, Facebook, ah email address one more time or...
00:29:32
Speaker
CopsFindingCancer.org is our website. So yeah, it'll come directly to me. Yeah. So he's he's checking it. he'll be eyeballs on it. I do. And then for anything else, any questions, episode ideas, anything we can clarify or just feature on future episodes, just feel free to email us. We have a new email address now.
00:29:49
Speaker
So it's communityconnectionsatadamsheriffco.gov. Until next time. Thank you so much. Thank you. All right. Take care.