Candlelight Vigil Planned For UAPD Officer Battling Terminal Cancer

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Family, friends and members of the law enforcement community will gather Thursday evening for a candlelight vigil honoring University of Alabama Police Officer Justin Beal, whose family recently learned his cancer has rapidly progressed.

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According to an announcement shared Monday by the Tuscaloosa County Deputy Sheriffs' Association on behalf of Beal's wife, Christina, the vigil will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 9, at the University of Alabama Police Department, which is located at 1110 Jackson Avenue.

Organizers said the event is intended to honor Beal's life, service and legacy while offering support to his family as he enters hospice care.

The vigil announcement comes shortly after Beal's family provided an update on his condition, saying what began as a visit to UAB Hospital in Birmingham for blurry vision led to devastating news.

Following extensive testing, doctors determined that Beal's cancer had aggressively spread to his brain and surrounding areas.

Beal's family says they have been told he has only days to weeks to live.

"As they begin hospice care, their focus is on ensuring Justin is comfortable, surrounded by the love of his family and friends, and making the most of the precious time they have together," the association wrote.

In addition to asking the community to attend the vigil, the organization has encouraged residents to support Beal's family through a GoFundMe campaign established to help cover medical expenses and end-of-life costs.

As of the publication of this story, the GoFundMe had raised $49,090 toward its goal of $50,000.

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