FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — The Fort Fairfield Police Department is launching a fundraiser that will benefit Cary Medical Center’s Women’s Imaging Center and its Pink Aroostook initiative.
The department has begun selling pink versions of officers’ badges that members of the public can purchase for $10 each. All funds raised from the Pink Patch Project will benefit equipment upgrades to Cary’s Women’s Imaging Center and Pink Aroostook, a program of Cary that connects breast cancer patients with local and national resources as well as financial support.
Fort Fairfield Director of Public Safety Shawn Newell wrote in a Facebook post Friday that the department wore pink badges throughout October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. They originally planned to launch the Pink Patch Project in October but the remainder of the patches arrived later than expected.
“I was aware that some agencies around the country wear or sell their department patch in pink to raise money for the Pink Patch Project,” Newell said, on the origins of the fundraiser.
Like many people in Aroostook County, Newell knows firsthand the devastating effects that breast cancer causes on families and loved ones. His mother Jean Newell, formerly of Calais, died from breast cancer at the age of 72.
He said that his police department chose to focus its fundraising efforts on Cary Medical Center in order to help those most affected by breast cancer in Aroostook County.
“While we understand that national organizations need help too, we prefer to support Aroostook County organizations first,” Newell said.
Two hundred pink police patches are available for purchase. Anyone who wishes to purchase a patch can send a check labeled “Town of Fort Fairfield-PPP” to 18 Community Center Drive, Fort Fairfield, ME, 04742.
