Tish Powell, left, Sclestine Foster, Mia Gentry and Kerri Long stand inside an inflatable model of the human breast designed to illustrate the differences between healthy and cancerous tissues on Friday on Rice Road in Tyler. Hosted by East Texas Medical Center, the model was on display for individuals as they picked up their participant packets for the annual Komen Race for the Cure, set for this morning in downtown Tyler. Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph

A T-shirt campaign by the Tyler Police Department helped officers raise $1,500 for the Cancer Foundation For Life.

Sgt. Matt Leigeber said the idea came to him to make up some T-shirts and sell them to use the money to help the foundation, which is a free cancer rehabilitation exercise program in communities across East Texas, the Dallas area and Arizona.

Tyler Oncologist Dr. Setislava Vukelja is on the board of directors and works with the foundation closely.

Leigeber met Dr. Vukelja while out walking his dog and the two began talking.

When he learned who she was and read her book, he said he understood her role in the community.

“A lot of people don’t know what this woman does for the community,” he said.

Leigeber said the officers he works with, and one in particular, went to work selling the shirts and sold out quickly.

He said next year he plans to start the shirt campaign earlier to earn a larger donation for the foundation.

“I promise next year we will step up our game,” he said during the check presentation on Thursday in Tyler.

 

— Kenneth Dean