‘No one walks alone’ within the sheriff’s office family, and they will shave their heads to prove it.

When one of their own is in need, law enforcement comes together because they consider each other family.

Within the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office family, “No one walks alone,” which is why many wore T-shirts letting others know just that on Friday.

Hundreds of first responders and members of the community came together to enjoy some Mission BBQ at the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office operations center on Friday to raise money for one of their own, Detective Nate Boggs, who is undergoing chemo treatments.

Boggs was all smiles as he was greeted by members of his office, many he had not seen since taking sick leave in April.

“It’s unbelievable,” Boggs said. “You are so used to helping others as a law enforcement officer, then it’s completely jaw-breaking when they come together to help you out.”

On Saturday, their efforts to raise money and awareness will continue with the Shave a Cop’s Head event between 3 and 6 p.m. at the Loft Salon, 4308 75th St. W., Unit A, Bradenton. More than 35 local first responders already having committed to have their heads shaved.

Earlier this year, Boggs first went to the doctor earlier this year with complaints of back pain, after he thought he pulled a muscle during one his regular basketball games with fellow sheriff’s office deputies and staff. When muscle relaxers didn’t work, he went back to the doctor and it then that a compression fracture in his spine was discovered.

But Boggs never expected what happened next. An MRI would reveal a tumor on his spine.

“You can imagine, that sends you into a tailspin,” Boggs recalls after hearing the word cancer. “At the time, it was scary.”

Doctors were perplexed, however, because tumors on the spine usually occur when cancer has spread from elsewhere in the body. Fortunately for Boggs, doctors found all his organs cancer-free and told him it was curable — but it would involve surgery and four rounds of chemotherapy.

Set to begin his fourth and final round of chemo, Boggs was in great spirits Friday.

“I can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Boggs said, grateful that the dark days were behind him.

And on Saturday, many at the sheriff’s office and other first responders will have their head shaved in support of Boggs.

First up will be Capt. Patrick Cassella of the Criminal Investigations Division, which includes Boggs’ unit. Shaving Cassella’s head will be Sheriff Rick Wells, and Cassella’s won’t be the only head he shaves.

“We’re inviting the community to come out and for a donation, you can shave one of our finest in law enforcement’s head,” Elicia Main said. “We decided to do all this to support our good friends and raise awareness for cancer and that it affects everybody.”

That was a sentiment echoed by fellow detective Rebecca Angel, who wants the community to see that no one is immune to cancer. She and Main, a criminal analyst with the sheriff’s office, worked together with the help of many others to put together both fund-raisers.

“Law enforcement is like family,” Angel said. “This is a true testament to that.”

This story was originally published July 21, 2017 at 6:54 PM with the headline "‘No one walks alone’ within the sheriff’s office family, and they will shave their heads to prove it.."