NSW police came together today as part of the inaugural "Great Cop Drop" which saw close to 30 participants skydive over Wollongong to raise money for childhood cancer research, NSW Police say.
Assistant Commissioner, Mark Jones APM, was joined by 26 officers who contributed to the fund-raising efforts.
"Each officer pledged to raise $1000 to be part of this worthy cause which will assist in providing funds to the Children’s Cancer Institute.
"Cancer affects many people within the community and through the "Great Cop Drop", we are able to continue our ongoing support," Assistant Commissioner Jones said.
The inspiration behind the Great Cop Drop is a little girl called Isla, the daughter of Detective Inspector Darrin Batchelor after being diagnosed with leukaemia when she was four-years old.
"For over two years Isla endured constant chemotherapy, 28 general anaesthetics, 23 lumbar punctures, four bone marrow samples, blood and platelet transfusions and spent months in hospital," Darrin said.
"Isla was entered into a study by the Children’s Cancer Institute within days of her diagnosis which studied ways to reduce the effects of chemotherapy in children. Isla is now eight years old and in remission and we want to do all we can to continue to help the institute beat this disease, so no other child or parent needs to experience this trauma," he said.
The Executive Director of the Children’s Cancer Institute, Professor Michelle Haber AM, said all of the money raised will go towards ensuring the institute’s medical discoveries are progressed into treatment for kids with cancer as quickly as possible.
"As a result of medical research, eight out of ten children will survive their cancer. But, unfortunately, nearly three children in Australia are still dying from this disease every week," Haber said.
"Community fundraising events such as the "Great Cop Drop" bring us another step closer to saving the lives of all children with cancer and improving their long-term health," she said.
For further information visit: http://bit.ly/GreatCopDrop
