MEDIA RELEASE
Blue Donut Week: A Sweet Way to Support SA Police Families
Brevet Sergeant Nick Fatchen is encouraging South Australians to get behind Blue Donut Week to raise vital funds for the charity that stood by his family when they needed it most.
Nick’s wife, Emma, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2013. She passed away the following year, aged just 37, leaving behind Nick, their two children — Izaac (9) and Sophie (6) — and Emma’s eldest son, Shaun (17).
“SA Police Legacy reached out very early on when Emma was sick,” Nick said.
The charity paid for the young family to have a weekend away in the Barossa before Emma passed.
The couple met eight months after Nick graduated from the police academy and was stationed at Port Augusta where Emma was doing clerical work.
When Emma got sick, Nick was working full time as a police officer and she was raising their young family.
At the time, SA Police Legacy provided three years of support to families when a serving police officer’s spouse was seriously ill or died. Unknown to Nick, when his support ended, the charity was already working to extend its policies to ensure families like his could continue receiving assistance.
“And then I get out of the blue this email saying, ‘we’ve changed our policies, and you’re eligible again for all these things’. And there was just this weight that lifted off me,” Nick said.
“It was just one of those things where suddenly the school fees and the uniforms were not a problem anymore. The needing to find $60 for the camp trip or what have you, suddenly was not a problem anymore.”
Over the years, SA Police Legacy has provided Izaac (now 20) and Sophie (now 18) with grants for schooling, laptops, phones, driving lessons, family outings and birthday gifts.
“SA Police Legacy have provided free family tickets to the show. This has enabled us to go as a family and spend time together doing all the silly family things together (like me taking Sophie on one of those terrifying looping pirate ship rides because she wanted to do it with me) that build memories,” Nick said.
Last year, SA Police Legacy funded Sophie’s school trip to Indonesia. “It was huge, and I just couldn’t have afforded it all,” Nick said, referencing the cost of flights, getting a passport and even luggage, all of which SA Police Legacy covered.
Sophie continues her studies with ongoing support from SA Police Legacy.
Izaac is following his father’s path and is due to graduate from the South Australian Police Academy in October.
He, like many of his colleagues, has signed up to make a small donation to SA Police Legacy each pay.
“I know from experience how much of a difference SA Police Legacy can make for children of families, the police officers and other family members,” Izaac said.
Encouraging people to buy a Blue Donut, Nick said even small contributions could make a big difference.
South Australians can show their support for police families by buying a Blue Donut this week, with proceeds going to SA Police Legacy in the lead-up to National Police Remembrance Day.
Now in its fifth year, Blue Donut Week raises funds for SA Police Legacy, which supports families of South Australian police officers during times of serious illness, injury, or bereavement.
“When the worst happens, SA Police Legacy steps in to ensure no police family is left behind,” SA Police Legacy Board Chair, Chief Inspector Kellie Watkins, said.
“Something as simple as buying a Blue Donut can make a real difference to children who have lost a parent, or to families who need ongoing support.”
Blue Donut Week runs from Monday 22 to Monday 29 September (inclusive).
Monday 29 September is National Police Remembrance Day, a solemn occasion to honour all police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Drakes Supermarkets are once again supporting the campaign with Blue Donuts supplied by Vili’s Bakery, alongside dozens of participating bakeries across South Australia. Drakes Supermarkets are accepting pre-orders up until Friday 19th September using this link: Blue Donut Week | Vilis
To find your nearest Blue Donut outlet, visit www.policelegacysa.org.au or check the list below and help make a difference — one donut at a time.
