Burger fundraiser nets $21K for Odessa police officer battling cancer
The Odessa Police Department (OPD) reports the community raised $21,435 at a burger fundraiser Thursday to help an officer battling cancer pay for his medical expenses.
“We live in such a giving community and never take that for granted,” the Police Department stated on Facebook.
The OPD and the City of Odessa held a “Burgers for Mike” fundraiser at the Ector County Coliseum. Odessa Chuck Wagon Gang reportedly cooked up thousands of burgers to support the effort. Members of the local law and fire departments “and folks from across the Permian Basin came together to help raise money for Cpl. Mike Troglin,” according to the OPD.
Those unable to make the event can still make donations at ppoaodessa.com, as well as at this GoFundMe page started by Troglin’s daughter Sydney.
Troglin, who played football for Permian High in the 1980s and is in the Panthers Hall of Fame, is fighting Stage 4 melanoma, his daughter stated on GoFundMe. His colleagues and members of the community are banding together to help with his medical expenses.
In a video posted Aug. 3, Odessa Police PR Manager Monica Quintero said his fellow officers “are doing everything they can to help.” The video includes a clip of Troglin talking about what it means to be a police officer just one week before his cancer diagnosis.
“This job, to me, is the best job you could have,” he said in the video.
A fellow officer, Cpl. Gary Potter, said Troglin’s patrol car is always stocked with toys to give to children.
“He buys toys with his own money,” Potter said in the OPD video. “For every kid he sees, he stops to take time to talk to them, interact with them.”
Cpl. Jon Foust added that Troglin “gives to everybody, he gives to us, he gives to homeless people.”
“He’s a great example of what a public servant should be,” Foust added.
Now, the community he’s given so much to is giving back.
Troglin’s wife, Toy, called her husband a “fighter” who will get through this.
“I believe in prayer, I believe your prayers are working,” Toy said, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of community support.
