Posted 10:07 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18, 2019
UWL officer has his pink tutu ready for annual doughnut fundraiser.
UWL officer has his pink tutu ready for annual doughnut fundraiser
Instead of getting upset about the stereotype of police and their doughnuts, UWL Police Officer Dave Pehl embraces the cliché — but for a good cause.
For the third straight year, Pehl will don a pink tutu and hawk coffee and doughnuts with his police vehicle and its light flashing at Hoeschler Tower in the middle of campus. His cause: fighting breast cancer.
“I figured it would be a fun play on the stereotype that cops love doughnuts and coffee,” says Pehl on how he came up with the idea of “Cops for a Cure.”
Pehl has been supporting a cure for breast cancer for many years. He’s been volunteering at the 60-mile, three-day Susan G. Komen fundraiser in Chicago since 2008. He rides about 70 to 80 miles helping keep the walkers safe along the route.
The cause is near and dear to Pehl. His mother was a 32-year survivor of breast cancer before dying from it.
“Instead of being 12 years old and losing my mother, she was able to see me get married and see her grandchildren,” says Pehl. “She owes those 32 years because of research and early detection.”
Pehl says he lost his grandmother and an aunt to the disease. His sister is a five-year survivor, another aunt is a two-year survivor and he has numerous cousins who are also survivors.
For the first time, Pehl’s efforts at Hoeschler Tower will become more of a family affair. His 16-year-old daughter, Madelynne, will join him in doughnut delivering. His daughter has volunteered on the youth corps for two walks in the Twin Cities, but plans to walk 60 miles this year as she has reached the minimum age to walk.
Pehl says the two hours of laughs he shares handing out coffee and doughnuts in his pink tutu and pink Zubaz are worth it. Since 2008, he has raised approximately $7,500 in his combined walk and doughnut efforts.
If you go—
Who: UWL Officer Dave Pehl and his daughter, Madelynne
What: Cops for a Cure
When: 8-10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25
Where: Hoeschler Tower, UWL
Admission: October Breast Cancer fundraising event. Enjoy coffee and donuts for any donation!