By Clif Knight

Hartselle Enquirer

Hartselle Police Department’s annual No Shave in November fundraiser generated more than $4,000 for the Kooper Rooks Cancer Fund.

A commemorative check for $3,000 was presented to the Rooks family at a ceremony conducted at Hartselle City Hall Sunday evening. The amount of the donation continued to grow after the check was presented and was expected to exceed $4,000 when a final tally was made on Monday, according to investigator Chip Reynolds.

Among those attending the ceremony was Kooper, who was home on a weekend visit from St. Jude Children’s Hospital, where he continues to receive treatment for gray zone lymphoma.

A highlight is his visit was going deer hunting with his father, Jerry Rooks.

“We saw lots of deer but we didn’t shoot one,” Kooper said.

The 14-year-old Hartselle Junior High School student said his studies at St. Jude are on-going.

“They don’t give me a break,” he pointed out.

A majority of Hartselle’s male policemen participated in the fundraiser by allowing their whiskers to grow through the month of November. They solicited monetary support from neighbors, friends and local merchants.

The ‘No Shave’ funds will be used to help meet transportation and medical expenses incurred by the Rooks family.

Kooper was diagnosed with cancer last July and had received five rounds of chemotherapy to date. He will begin a sixth round Dec. 6. His treatment plan called for three more months of treatments.

“They saved his life,” Jerry said of the medical care his son has received at St. Jude. It’s a blessing for him to be there and we are so grateful.”

“We love where we live,” Rooks added. The people of Hartselle, Danville and Falkville have really gone the extra mile to support Kooper and our family.”