Protecting public safety is just one of the many ways LAPD officers serve the community. Last year, officers held their 10th annual “Angels Community Book and Toy Drive,” they participated in several blood drives, and they stepped into the ring with deputies from the Sheriff's Department for the 17th annual "Fight for Life" boxing tournament benefitting City of Hope.

Now, a group of LAPD officers have signed up with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program and joined the fight against blood cancers. They’ve formed Team LAPD, who will train for the 2011 LA Marathon and raise funds for cancer research. With the support of their family, friends and colleagues, the team hopes to raise $35,000.

There’s a special significance to this goal since three of Team LAPD are themselves battling cancer. Five-year olds Nathaniel and Ryan, and 16 year-old Freddy are all putting up a brave fight against acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a debilitating cancer of white blood cells that has, over the last four decades, shown increasing survival rates thanks to ongoing research into new treatments and therapies. This is why Team LAPD is training to raise these urgently needed research funds.

We encourage everyone out there to join Team LAPD in their fight against blood cancer by pledging their support on the team’s page or by getting involved in any way they can. Team LAPD is also on Facebook.