Community Corner
Fort Lee Cops Raise Thousands Of Dollars To Help Cure Girl, 9, Of Cancer
Briana Lopez was in and out of the hospital since January with a rare form of leukemia.
FORT LEE, NJ — Nine-year-old Briana Lopez spent the last eight months battling a rare form of leukemia. But she wasn't alone in her fight. She had a blue line of supporters behind her: The Fort Lee Police Department.
Several officers volunteered their time to organize and run a Zumba marathon and the Fort Lee Policemen's Benevolent Association Local 245 donated money to help Lopez and her family. The donations totalled thousands of dollars.
"It's going to a be long road to recovery, but so far, she's doing really great," said Yanine Lopez, Briana's mother. She and her husband have been out of work since Briana was diagnosed. "She's a strong girl and very motivated."
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The first place Lopez went after being declared cancer-free was the police department.
"She's the strongest person I know," said Detective Nick Mircovich, who headed up the Zumba marathon and visited Lopez in the hospital. "She ran out of her car and gave us all a big hug. It was a nice surprise for all of us."
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Local teachers also organized a tricky tray fundraiser for the family.
Yanine Lopez said the support the family has received has been amazing.
"There are no words to express how thankful I am for the police and everyone for their support," Lopez said.
There are more fundraisers on the way as the family has incurred more medical bills. Lopez received a bone marrow transplant and insurance did not pay for everything.
Proceeds from a 5-kilometer run this fall hosted by former New York Giant Justin Tuck will also be donated to the family.
"There's still deductibles and copays from insurance and things that insurance won't pay for," Yanine Lopez said. "We wouldn't even have been able to do this without their help. We'd be out on the street."
Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com
Photos:
Briana Lopez smiles in her hospital room.
Lopez meets with Detective Nick Mircovich at the hospital and at the Fort Lee Police Department after being ruled cancer-free.
Lopez hangs out in Chief Keith Bendul's office.
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