For Immediate Release

Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Gloucester Police Department Donates Over $10K to Cops for Kids with Cancer

GLOUCESTER — Chief John McCarthy is pleased to announce that the Gloucester Police Department donated more than $10,000 to Cops for Kids with Cancer this week following a successful fundraising effort and a surprise donation from one of the department’s supporters.

On Monday, Chief McCarthy and members of Gloucester Police met with representatives from Cops for Kids with Cancer to present them a check for $10,685.

The department had initially raised $5,685 through a generous donation from Peabody-based Lyon-Waugh Auto Group and ticket sales for the department’s community safety event at Harbor Loop in September.

On Monday, just prior to the check presentation, Warren Waugh, owner of the luxury car dealership, told Chief McCarthy that he was going to be donating an additional $5,000 to the charity.

“The additional $5,000 came as a total surprise and we actually had to erase the number five and add a 10 to the giant check we were presenting,” Chief McCarthy said. “Every dollar helps when it comes to raising money for this extremely important charity and we sincerely thank Warren and the folks at the Lyon-Waugh Auto Group for their support and tremendous generosity.”

Waugh, whose company sponsored the community event in September, attended the check presentation ceremony along with Officer Joseph Paraday, who organized the event, and several other officers.

About Cops For Kids With Cancer:

In 2005, retired Boston Police Captain John Dow and his wife, Joan, wanted to find a way to support children with cancer who were being treated at Massachusetts General Hospital. Captain Dow, a cancer survivor, was sensitive to the needs of cancer patients and had a particular empathy for children undergoing difficult treatments.

Soon after, the nonprofit he founded, Cops For Kids With Cancer, began directing significant support to pediatric cancer patients at Massachusetts General Hospital. Cops For Kids With Cancer supports emergency assistance to families, events for patients and their families, and special “wishes” for teens, who are too old to be served by the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Captain Dow lost his battle with cancer in 2007, but his vision of supporting children and their families continues.

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