Fundraiser shows support for officer’s family
It didn’t take long to see the support for the first Wives of Blue fundraiser.
Held Saturday, Oct. 6, in the parking lot across Penn Avenue from the Telford police station, the event was a benefit for the family of Plymouth police Officer Bradley Fox, who was shot and killed on the job Sept. 13.
The fundraiser, held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., included the sale of paracord bracelets with Fox’s badge number, along with other paracord bracelets and key chains.
Before the start, 50 bracelets with Fox’s badge number and 50 plain bracelets were made ready for sale.
“From 10 to 10:15, we sold out,” Jennifer Seville, wife of Telford police Officer Robert Seville, said. “We’ve been taking orders since then.”
“They’re making key chains and bracelets on the spot,” Colleen Popiny, wife of Telford police Officer Brett Popiny, said.
Some of the people who came for the bracelets or key chains waited for two hours until one was made for them, she said.
Donations and gift cards were also being accepted, as well as raffles held and sales of items donated by the district attorney’s office, area police departments and businesses. The event also included children’s activities.
Seville and Popiny formed the new Wives of Blue a few days before Fox was killed. Following his death, it was decided to make the first fundraiser a benefit for Fox’s family.
A Facebook page started less than a month ago had almost 600 “likes”
as of the morning of Oct. 6.
“We did not expect this at all,” Popiny said. “It’s so overwhelming and touching to see the support for Wives of Blue and the Fox family.”
The threaded paracords can hold up to 550 pounds and can be used in survival situations if necessary, according to information provided for the fundraiser.
“The bracelets represent Brad,” Popiny said. “He was a hero. He was a strong man and it’s a survival bracelet.”
Fox, a New Hanover resident, was killed on the day before his 35th birthday. His wife, Lynsay, is pregnant with their second child.
“We told her, we’re like your family from everywhere,” Popiny said.
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A special set was also made up for Lynsay Fox.
“The key chain had two hearts on it with Brad’s name on it,” Popiny said, “and then the bracelet had his badge number.”
With about an hour remaining in the fundraiser, plus orders having been received from others not there on the day of the event, the total raised from the event was not available, but the day was a very emotional and very successful one, Seville and Popiny said.
Information about other upcoming fundraisers for the Fox family is included on The Wives of Blue Facebook page.
Future events by Wives of Blue could include a community food drive, Seville said.
“Whenever something comes up, we’ll try and support it,” she said. “That’s why we want wives from everywhere so they can say, ‘This happened, do something about it.’”