Campus Connection

UWL police officer to hold final fundraiser for breast cancer research

Dave Pehl is saying toodeloo to his hot pink tutu.

Each October for the past five years, Pehl, a 15-year veteran of the UW-La Crosse Police Department, has raised money for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation in an unusual way: by squeezing into a tutu and other pink clothing, and handing out coffee and donuts.

With Pehl set to retire in the spring, Wednesday, Oct. 26, could mark his final fundraiser on campus. He’ll be at Hoeschler Tower from 7:30 to 10 a.m. — “impossible to miss,” he says.

“If I can make people smile and maybe break some stereotypes they have about police, then that’s great. If I can raise a little money and bring some awareness for breast cancer, that’s even better,” explains Pehl, who has raised nearly $3,000 over the past several years. “I’ve really enjoyed seeing the students and faculty stop by between classes. This year is going to feel bittersweet, because it’s been a good ride.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a time when organizations such as Susan G. Komen redouble their fundraising and awareness efforts.

In addition to fundraising, Pehl volunteers as a safety officer during the Susan G. Komen 3-Day, a three-day, 60-mile walk held in select cities around the country.

For Pehl, breast cancer runs in the family. His mother, sister, grandmother and aunt were all diagnosed, as were several of his cousins.

Pehl was 12 when he learned his mother was sick. He credits early detection and treatment for keeping her alive another three decades.

“Instead of losing my mom when I was 12 years old, I didn’t lose her until I was in my 40s,” Pehl says. “She was a 32-year survivor, which meant she got to see me grow up, her grandchildren grow up. That’s why early detection is so important.”

Pehl knows the difference one conversation can make — whether it’s encouraging someone to keep up with cancer screenings, or comforting a student whose loved one is struggling with the disease.

“I remember one student telling me that her mom was a breast cancer survivor for one year,” Pehl says. “All she had was 75 cents, which she donated. I told her about my mom and that I understood what she was going through. There's not enough hope in this world, so that’s what I try to give people.”

Pehl could raise money in his traditional dark blue uniform — but, he says, it wouldn’t be quite as much fun.

He started years ago with a pink wig and pig mask, and then added a pink hat, a pink cape, pink shorts, pink buttons and, of course, his trademark pink tutu.

“People liked it, so I added more and more every year,” says Pehl, whose wardrobe earned him the nickname Mullet Pig. “People have even offered to make me a custom tutu and said they would be honored to have me wear it.

“It’s not every day you see a 6-foot, 250-pound man wearing a tutu,” Pehl admits. “The people love it.”

Pehl is proud of every dollar he has raised for breast cancer research, but he draws more satisfaction from the human interactions: the smiles he has sparked, the hope he has inspired, the example he has set for others.

The true measure of Pehl’s impact can be seen in his daughter, Madelynne, who grew up helping at breast cancer walks and fundraisers. She is now in her first year at Western Technical College, studying to become a nurse.

“To see my passion spread to my daughter,” he says, “it’s pretty neat.”

While Pehl is preparing as if Wednesday’s fundraiser will be his last, he is not closing the door for good.

He knows he is ready to hang up his badge. But the tutu? He is far less certain about that.

“If I can maybe come back as a retiree and raise a little money, that’s better than raising no money, right?” he says. “So I’m not going to rule it out. Maybe. There’s a good chance of maybe.”