Law enforcement families gather for 5th annual Andy Chan Block Party fundraiser
Law enforcement families gather for 5th annual Andy Chan Holiday Block Party
An Old City block is shut down, turning a holiday party into a major fundraiser for multiple law enforcement families. It’s all part of the 5th annual Andy Chan Holiday Block Party, named for an officer injured in the line of duty.
OLD CITY - An Old City block is shut down, turning a holiday party into a major fundraiser for multiple law enforcement families. It’s all part of the 5th annual Andy Chan Holiday Block Party, named for an officer injured in the line of duty.
"I will say this is our new normal," Andy Chan’s wife, Teng Chan, said.
Life won’t ever go back to the normal that was when Andy Chan proudly patrolled along the Eagles Super Bowl parade and escorted presidents with his fellow Philly Police Highway Patrol officers.
"It’s a lot that goes on into the cage for our Andy," Teng explained. "As time goes on, his condition gets more complicated and as it becomes more complicated, I learn more things, but it does get more complicated. I’m trying everything I can to keep him going. But, he is a fighter, so as long as he fights, we fight with him."
January 3rd will mark six years since Andy, on duty on his Philly Police motorcycle, crashed into a car that pulled right out in front of him in Northeast Philadelphia, near Pennypack Park. Andy was paralyzed and in a coma for two months.
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It happened in his 23rd year on the force, fulfilling a lifelong commitment to be a Philadelphia Highway Patrol officer. The night of the accident changed he and his wife’s lives forever.
But, Friday night, Teng and the families of other injured and killed in the line of duty, police and firefighters were again with their bigger family, that always keeps them within hugging distance, raising money and raising the spirits of wives and widows.
The Families Behind the Badge non-profit brings smiles and a bit of happiness at their annual block party fundraiser in Old City.
The Phillies Phanatic, Gritty and Swoop were all to hand to show their appreciation for the real top team in town.
"When we get together, we have fun. We have drinks and we laugh and you forget," Judy Cassidy, widow of murder PM Philly police officer Chuck Cassidy, explained. "It's not like we sit and talk about it all the time. We're here to have a good time and not cry. This is great, we all feel the same way about that."
Co-Founder of Families Behind the Badge, Mark O’Connor, stated, "It's important that these families know - the Chan family and all the other ones that are here tonight, and I think we have 17 different families here tonight that we’re never gonna forget their loved ones. That they'll always be remembered and we’ll always be there for them."
Teng added, "Blue Families, Families Behind the Badge, Children’s Foundation has done a lot of work to help raise funds for our family and the first responder families and we couldn't thank them enough. We just feel so blessed and we just wanna say thank you."