Police Present Tewksbury Woman With Cancer $5,000 for Treatment

The Tewksbury Police Department hosted a young Tewksbury resident who is suffering from brain cancer on Friday for a presentation of $5,000 from the organization Cops For Kids With Cancer. 

Stephanie Patenaude and her family were escorted by a convoy of police cruisers from their home to the Tewksbury Police Department where officers were waiting to greet the young lady. 

Patenaude, 21, suffers from ganglioglioma, a slow growing tumor that affects children and young adults.

Cops For Kids with Cancer is a charity organization comprised of active and retired police officers and friends of law enforcement that donates $5,000 to families fighting pediatric cancer to help with the costs of treatment. 

Patenaude was studying film making at Full Sale University when she was diagnosed about a year and a half ago. 

Gail Dankantas, Patenaude's mother, said she was so grateful something so positive could come out of such a trying time.

"Going through this is like nothing we've ever imagined," Dankantas said. "I've seen millions of good things happen out of this process, and you don't expect many good things when you get diagnosed."

Robert Faherty, chairman for Cops For Kids With Cancer, said the turnout of police officers from surrounding communities for Patenaude was the best he'd seen across the state.

Tewksbury Police Chief Timothy Sheehan told Patenaude that she was a member of the Tewksbury Police family.

"I think Stephanie should know now that she has lots of big brothers and fathers and mothers that are police officers now," Sheehan said. "With that there comes some responsibility because now you'll be looking around and these guys will all be watching out for you."