CPD team cuffs cancer
By Hilary Lewis
Instead of attacking lawbreakers, the Culpeper Police Department wants to use its force to attack a different predator: cancer.
This year, 23 members of the department will walk and raise money for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, set to take place Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8.
Led by co-captains Officer Tim Sisk and Maryellen Jarosh, the department's team formed as a community service project, as many staff members have been affected by cancer in some way.
"This is one of the first years that Culpeper Police Department had an active team that I can remember," said Sisk. "We're trying to give back to the community that we're working in. The whole project is very close to all of us because cancer has touched every single one of us in one way or another. This is a project that everybody at the department and everyone in the community can relate with."
The department's team, known as the "CPD Blues", will host a fund raising event on Saturday, May 10 at Lakeside Caterers. A spaghetti dinner and auction will be the highlight of a fun-filled night,
from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The police department has already received a number of donations for the dinner. Luigi's Itailian Restaurant will donate the pasta and sauce, Pepper's Grille is providing the salads, Gentry's Catering is pitching in the bread, and Lakeside Catering is doing the beverages and desserts.
"They all came together for that and a lot of businesses around town, not only in Culpeper, but also Rappahannock and Madison Counties, have donated items for the auction," said Sisk.
Those items can be viewed on the department's website at www.culpeperpd.com under the Relay for Life link.
Up for auction are a number of prizes like a dinner for two at the Inn at Little Washington, a dinner for two and overnight stay at It's About Thyme, and a leather purse from Janal Leather.
"A lot of the businesses downtown donated," said Sisk. "There's a lot of things on the block and we have more stuff coming in. It should be good entertainment, with a live auction."
Tickets for the spaghetti dinner and auction can be obtained at the Culpeper Police Department on Cameron Street or from any officer. The cost is $10 for adults and $4 for children in advance or $12 for adults at the door. All proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society.
"This was one of the things that the chief was looking at. He wanted us to come up with some community activities and this was one of the things that touched everybody," Jarosh said. "We are just really trying to get the community involved."
For more information on the CPD Blues or the spaghetti dinner and auction, you may contact Tim Sisk at 727-3444 ext. 644 or Maryellen Jarosh at 727-3430.