In 2005, retired Boston Police captain John Dow and his wife Joan began conversations with MassGeneral Hospital for Children’s Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Center about ways of supporting children with cancer. John, then a cancer survivor, was sensitive to the needs of cancer patients and had a particular empathy for children undergoing challenging treatments. Soon after, the non-profit he founded, Cops for Kids with Cancer, began directing significant support to the pediatric cancer patients in MGHfC’s care.
Cops for Kids supports emergency assistance to vulnerable families, events for patients and their families, and special “wishes” for teens too old to be served by the Make-a-Wish Foundation. One 20-year-old dealing with recurrent cancer learned that he had no further treatment options just as his mother, a single parent, lost her job. A grant from Cops for Kids covered their expenses while the mother cared for her son during his final months.
Cops for Kids has provided wonderful diversions for patients and their families, such as harbor cruises on a Boston Police patrol boat and private tours of the JFK Aircraft Carrier when it was in Boston during 2007.
In 2007, Captain Dow lost his battle with cancer, but his vision of supporting children with cancer and their families continues. Robert Faherty, retired Boston Police superintendent-in-chief, now leads the committed volunteers who run this superb organization.
