Police officers donate toys to children at LLUCH

On September 20, police officers from across Southern California took a day off to bring some happiness to sick children at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital. Approximately 40 police officers flew into the San Bernardino International Airport bearing gifts. Teddy bears, Barbie dolls, art sets, and remote control cars were among the hundreds of presents then loaded into vans and driven to the hospital with an escort of 13 police motorcycle units. The toy drive and spectacular delivery were organized by Sgt. Gary Colley of the Monterey Park Police Department Air Support Unit, and Officer Jeff Werblun of the Riverside Police Department Aviation Unit. Sgt. Colley was inspired to organize the drive after his daughter, Megan, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on June 10, 1999. While Megan was being treated at Children's Hospital, Sgt. Colley noticed that some of the patients came from single-parent families and might benefit from some additional support, so he and his fellow air support officers organized the annual Cops for Kids Fly-In. Left photo: Police officers line up behind tables holding just a few of the toys they brought to patients at Children's Hospital. Right photo: Garland Brotherton, 12, jokes with a clown from the Riverside Fire Department before he picks out a toy. He reveals that he has been made fun of at school because he has Hodgkin's lymphoma. "Some people are rude and stubborn and won't do anything for us kids [who are sick]," he says. "But these guys are nice enough to bring toys to us, so somebody cares."

[Scope, Autumn 2000]

All contents copyright © 2001 Loma Linda University. All rights reserved.
Revised Thursday, June 7, 2001 2:30 PM
Send comments and questions to webmaster@univ.llu.edu
URL: http: //www.llu.edu/