For Immediate Release

Monday, March 18, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Photos: Gloucester’s Will Bren and Mason Adams in the Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade

GLOUCESTER — Two very special Gloucester boys were featured in the 2019 Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Mason Adams, who was honored after his 6th birthday in 2017 for donating all of his birthday money to the charity Cops for Kids with Cancer and William Bren, who is battling cancer and whose family received a Cops for Kids with Cancer donation were together with their loved ones on Sunday. The two local boys were featured in the Cops for Kids with Cancer trolley as they rolled down the streets of Boston.

In January 2017 Chief McCarthy and Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken were honored to welcome Mason and his family to the Gloucester police station, where they presented a check on Mason’s behalf to Cops For Kids With Cancer. Mason, who considers police officers to be his personal heroes, decided that he would prefer to donate money to the police rather than receive presents for his birthday, so his parents raised $900 in his name to donate to Cops For Kids With Cancer. Mason was thanked by Gloucester Police and presented with a formal citation by Mayor Romeo Theken recognizing him for his selflessness.

Will and his family visited with Gloucester Police last August after a convey of police cruisers escorted him and his family to the police station. Will’s family was presented with a $5,000 donation from Cops For Kids With Cancer to help cover his medical expenses.

Will is said to be doing well, according to his family, and he was all smiles aboard the trolley on Sunday.

Gloucester Police have raised thousands of dollars for the charity which supports the efforts of family members to attain and travel to treatment for their children.

“Will and Mason are two very unique and very special Gloucester children, and while they may consider cops to be their heroes, in reality they are heroes to us and they inspire us every day,” Chief McCarthy said.

About Cops For Kids With Cancer:

In 2005, retired Boston Police Captain John Dow and his wife, Joan, wanted to find a way to support children with cancer who were being treated at Massachusetts General Hospital. Captain Dow, a cancer survivor, was sensitive to the needs of cancer patients and had a particular empathy for children undergoing difficult treatments.

Soon after, the nonprofit he founded, Cops For Kids With Cancer, began directing significant support to pediatric cancer patients at Massachusetts General Hospital. Cops For Kids With Cancer supports emergency assistance to families, events for patients and their families, and special “wishes” for teens, who are too old to be served by the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Captain Dow lost his battle with cancer in 2007, but his vision of supporting children and their families continues.

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