Promise Kept: $10K Was Raised, So This Cop Shaved Her Head: WATCH

MONTVILLE, CT — Not unlike police departments all over, the Montville Police Department again in 2021 participated in No Shave November, a cancer awareness and fundraising appeal where cops let their hair grow, beards, mostly, to support people fighting the disease. This year, the town gave its blessing for No Shave November to continue through December

Officers who participate donate $50 or more for the privilege, and they chose two families to help.

The money raised would be divided between the two Montville families fighting cancer to help cover what insurance does not, like gas money to get to and from treatment and medications. In its donation request letter, police said that one of the families chosen "told us that even with their insurance, they received a $10,000 bill" for a needed surgery.

"No one should have to choose between food, mortgage payments, and medical procedures," the letter reads.

Montville police officer Karen Aleshire, promised that if more than $10,000 was raised, she’d go far behind a haircut.

Aleshire, police union president and longtime beloved school resource officer, contacted school administrators about families they may know affected by cancer.

The mother of a Mohegan Elementary School student was diagnosed with breast cancer, causing her to lose her hair, and because of treatment, she was forced to leave her job. For a time in remission, the cancer returned and spread. She and her family are grappling financially as well.

Mohegan School teacher tells the story

"About 2.5 years ago, the mother of one of our elementary school students was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was not able to visit our school much anymore, due to the treatments. When we did see her, it was clear she was very sick. She was very frail, had lost all of her hair, and had to quit her job. She somehow managed to care very well for her toddler and her son. A few months before the pandemic, she came to school to pick up her son early. When she saw her son’s teacher, she lifted up her then-beautiful, long hair and said, 'Look! Cancer gone!'"

"As an employee of Mohegan Sun, the dad lost wages for a few months during the casino closure. The pandemic was financially challenging for this hard-working family, already living on the margins economically, and life was made more difficult with the medical struggles. In early July, dad reported to us that, 'Mom is sick again. The doctor says cancer came back.' He had to withdraw the kids from their summer programs in order to take his wife to appointments."

"This year, when school started and the dad attended kindergarten orientation, we learned the mom’s cancer had spread to her bones and her prognosis is very grim. This family has two students in our school, ages 5 and 10. Understandably, we can see how this has impacted the children. This already struggling, single-income family will certainly suffer a financial hardship with medical bills, gas, parking fees, and lost wages while trying to meet the many needs of their young family. Our school will help the family during the holidays, and staff members have stepped up to cover costs, so the 5th grader can take part in our music program."

"Not only would this financial support mean the world to this family, it would be an incredible gesture of kindness toward a family who chose to make America their home and realize a dream for their children."

Four-year-old Benny's story

The family of Benny Lundy, a 4-year-old fighting the rare cancer Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, lives in Oakdale. They moved from Groton to be closer to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where he gets treatment.

Shortly after he turned four, he was taken to the doctor for what was thought to be "just leg pain." It was not. A tumor in his femur bone was discovered, a growth that caused a fracture. After surgery, a biopsy, MRIs, CT scans and a PET scan they determined he had a rare cancer called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, his mother Stephanie Lundy explained.

Benny started in October 2020 but at the one-year scan, "it was discovered that the chemotherapy is not working, as well as everyone had hoped."

Cancer was found in his liver, pituitary gland, lymph nodes in his neck, lymph nodes in his stomach, and in his brain.

He's now undergoing "two chemotherapy regimens plus high doses of steroids and, sadly, he hasn’t seen any change in his tumors."

Benny is described as a "happy and caring young man." When he visited police and fire headquarters to check out police cars and fire trucks, Benny asked if first responders would visit his brother at Oakdale Elementary School.

"Benny introduced us to his family, his brother James is five years old, sweet, kind, and loves to take care of his brothers; little Finley is two years old and a wild-child who brings laughter and love everywhere he goes; Dad is in the Navy; and Mom works very hard at juggling being everything to everyone."

“Please help us help him,” police wrote in a letter asking for donations.

And the donations began pouring in. And Aleshire made a promise.

At the beginning of December, $5,000 had been raised, but Aleshire vowed that if $10,000 were raised, she'd let Benny and his brother James and his Kindergarten class shave her head.

A promise kept

Now, after a months-long campaign the Montville Police Union, together with many businesses, and countless community members raised more than $12,600.

Wednesday is the day.

"I love my hair, being a redhead has been a huge part of my life, it’s my nickname, my identity," Aleshire wrote on Facebook. "But my hair will grow back, and the outpouring of support for these two families in our great town had been nothing short of miraculous."

Wednesday morning, Patch spoke with Aleshire, just a few hours before she was set to — keeping her promise —have her head shaved.

"I’m excited and nervous. But mostly excited," she said. "More money came in this morning. Kids are doing a PJ day, which I am going to join in on, and they are donating one dollar each today."

"It’s an exciting day," she said.

Here we go ...

What you need to know about Aleshire

She had worked for years as a school resource officer. Almost a decade ago, Patch spent time with her at Montville High School, documenting a few hours of her interacting with kids. A job she said, and showed, "I totally love."

Read the Patch 2012 story, and watch the video, here.

She was also honored by the Connecticut State Police with the Medal for Meritorious Service for her quick and selfless action when she and CSP Trooper First Class Jeffrey Meninno rushed to the aid of 10 victims of the Boston Marathon bombing in April 2013.

Read the 2013 story from Patch here.