The Philadelphia Police Department and community are joining together in a show of support for a police sergeant battling cancer.
A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for the sergeant, Heriberto "Eddie" Ortiz, set a goal last month to raise $5,000 to support Ortiz and his family as the 43-year-old officer fights cancer. The GoFundMe far exceeded its goal in a month, with more than 200 people donating to raise a total of $13,320 so far.
Jon Demnisky, one of Ortiz's colleagues, created the page April 13.
"My first intention was to try and get what was the equivalent of a paycheck for him, and that happened in hours," Demnisky said.
On the page, Demnisky shares how his friend's fight against cancer began:
"Not long ago, a dear friend co-worker, Heriberto "Eddie" Ortiz, was stricken with a devastating cancerous tumor," the page reads. "A normal workday of laughing, joking and all-around fun was interrupted by an impromptu doctor's appointment for Eddie. No big deal, right?"
The post goes on to say that Ortiz, who served in the police department for more than two decades, learned at that time that he had cancer, and has been out of work undergoing treatment. Ortiz is married and has a teenage daughter.
"I visited Eddie yesterday and his spirits are phenomenal. His attitude is exceptional and his outlook is wonderful," Demnisky wrote on the page. "What troubles him in this time of need are his finances. He needs some help and I hope that we, as the law enforcement community, can provide some relief financially and more importantly, emotionally."
Ortiz most recently worked at Northeast Detective Division.
To visit the GoFundMe page, click here.
