Chief Robert Burnaford with members of the Harvey Cedars Police Department and his parents Don and Debbie.
Sometimes breaking the rules isn’t a bad thing. Most police departments have policies prohibiting officers from sporting facial hair, so when the Harvey Cedars Police Department on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, wanted to participate in “No Shave November” they had to get special permission. The department was inspired to join this effort in support of Chief Robert Burnaford’s mother, Debbie Burnaford, who had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2016.
Since in this case the officers were growing beards to benefit cancer care, Chief Burnaford and his public safety commissioner agreed to make an exception.
On Long Beach Island, the Burnaford family lives in between New York and Philadelphia, and had to make a decision on where to seek treatment. After hearing many positive stories about Penn Medicine, they decided to go to Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center.
“Every person we met and worked with at the Abramson Cancer Center was fantastic. From my mom’s oncologist to the janitor, everyone was incredible, top-notch,” Chief Burnaford shared.
The Burnaford family was not only grateful for the cutting-edge treatment that Debbie received from oncologist Ingrid Kohut, DO, but also for the supportive care that was available. As a patient at the Abramson Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital, Debbie utilized the Joan Karnell Supportive Care Program. Her palliative care team was particularly helpful to Debbie and her family, so when the Harvey Cedars Police Department offered to raise funds to support a cause of Debbie’s choice, the decision was easy. The Joan Karnell Supportive Care Program has now received over $9,000 from the department.
“Everyone at Penn worked together as a team. That was the beauty of it,” Chief Burnaford recalled.
After a two-year battle, Debbie sadly passed away in January 2018. Her family is grateful for the supportive care she received, making her last moments more comfortable.
The Joan Karnell Supportive Care Program is free to patients thanks to philanthropic partners like the Harvey Cedars Police Department, who through fundraising in their community is helping further the Abramson Cancer Center’s mission to provide the most innovative treatment, while providing comprehensive care to patients and families.
Donate to the Joan Karnell Supportive Care Program