Community Corner
Police Fundraiser In Long Valley Will Benefit Organization That Fights Pancreatic Cancer
The Washington Township Police Department invited a "Support Squad" to help raise funds and awareness, in honor of a retired Newton officer.
LONG VALLEY, NJ — Participating Washington Township police officers won’t be shaving in November and December, to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer, as well as funds for an organization fighting it.
The police are doing so in honor of Michael Monaco, a retired lieutenant recently diagnosed with this type of cancer, who served 31 years with the Newton Police Department.
Long Valley residents are invited to join in on the fundraising and awareness-raising efforts.
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“Chief Almer and the members of the Washington Township Police Department would like to invite all who wish to join us in becoming part of the Support Squad in this fight,” the police department wrote in a social media post about their fundraising initiative.
As part of their fundraiser for adopting a no-shave November and December, each participating officer plans to donate $100 to the effort, with all donations to the Purple Pansies organization, a charity where Monaco requested proceeds to be earmarked.
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“Grow a beard, donate, share the link or spread general awareness information on pancreatic cancer,” the police department wrote.
They have started a GoFundMe fundraiser for those who would like to donate to the department’s fundraising efforts here: www.gofundme.com/f/retired-lieutenant-michael-monaco.
According to Purple Pansies, more than 60,000 are diagnosed yearly with pancreatic cancer, which they say is the third leading cause of cancer fatalities in the country, with 10 percent having a five-year survival rate and only six percent federal funding helping the cause.
Part of the battle, the Purple Pansies website indicates, is early detection, with about 91 percent of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer having found their cancer metastasized before they received their diagnosis.
For more information about the Purple Pansies organization, visit www.purplepansies.org.
Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.
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