Police box to help cop with cancer

Local police officers will be strapping on boxing gloves and participating in exhibition matches to raise money to help an Aurora cop in his battle against pancreatic cancer at the fourth annual boxing event sponsored by the National Latino Peace Officers Association Aurora Chapter.

The exhibition matches will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Lane, Aurora. The matches will culminate an afternoon of boxing that begins at 1:30 p.m., with a card of 10 amateur bouts featuring boxers of all ages during "Officer Don Corp's Ultimate Fight Against Cancer."

The amateur matches are sanctioned by the USA Boxing Association and Jesse "The Law" Torres Boxing Club, which is run by retired Aurora police officer and former professional boxer Jesse "The Law" Torres.

Stepping into the ring will be Melrose Park Police Officer Giovanni Sullo vs. Kane County Sheriff's Deputy Danny Godinho; Aurora Police Officer Mark Balayut vs. Kane County Sheriff's Deputy Joe Salinas; FBI Agent Burke Lanthorn vs. Kane County Sheriff's Deputy Brian Demeter; and Batavia Police Officer John Kahl vs. Kane County Sheriff's Deputy Alex Lopez. The evening's main event pits Aurora Police Officer Ben Grabowski against Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Art Albarran.

Advance tickets are $15 and $20 at the door. Admission for children ages 6-12 is $5. Tickets are available online at nlpoa-aurora.com or by calling (630) 256-5625. All proceeds benefit #operationdon, a fundraising arm established by Aurora police officers that helps defray medical costs being incurred by Aurora Police Officer Don Corp.

Corp, 36, was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer in July and is undergoing a regimen of chemotherapy and other treatments.

The National Latino Peace Officers Association is the largest Latino law enforcement organization in the United States, with local chapters in many cities throughout the country. The Aurora Chapter is the first local chapter in Illinois.

One of the chapter's goals is to recruit Latinos into the law enforcement profession and to educate the Latino community that law enforcement can be trusted and is a vital resource on which they can depend.

For information on the event and the NLPOA, call Aurora Police Sergeant Alfredo Dean at (630) 256-5625.

If you go

What: Police exhibition boxing matches to help "Officer Don Corp's Ultimate Fight Against Cancer"

When: 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15

Where: East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Lane, Aurora

Cost: $15 in advance, $20 at the door

Info: (630) 256-5625 or nlpoa-aurora.com