Community raises money for Cornelius boy with rare brain tumor

CORNELIUS, N.C. — The Cornelius community is raising money for the son of a police officer who is fighting a rare brain tumor.

Cornelius police Capt. Jennifer Thompson said it all happened so fast.

“We noticed Jace was walking differently,” Thompson said.

That was on Oct. 22 and later, doctors found a spot on the 4-year-old’s spinal cord. Doctors then told the parents their son has a rare and aggressive brain tumor.

“No way this was us,” Thompson said. “No way this was my 4-year-old “

Fellow officers stepped in to help to pay $40 each as a donation to the family to take part in “No Shave November.”

They sold T-shirts and wristbands while businesses started raising funds.

Officers from the Pittsboro Police Department also stepped in to help.

They surpassed their goal raising $6,300 for the Thompson family.

"Our coworkers, we consider each other an extension of family and we would do for her exactly what we would do for our own family,” Cornelius police Sgt. J.J. Sarver said.

Now that November is over, the support hasn't stopped.

Officers in Pittsboro challenged the Cornelius Police Department to extend the fundraising and the beard-growing by a month.

Thompson is ready for a battle with cancer

“I decided this was time to fight,” the mother said. “No waver in our belief that he was going to be healed.”

Collections will continue at the Cornelius Police Department, Cornelius Town Hall and Christmas Tree Lot. Cash or checks are accepted, made out to Jennifer Thompson. For questions, email Lt. Davis at sdavis@corneliuspd.org.

Cox Media Group