What was once a quiet community gathering is now becoming one of the Plateau’s largest fundraising events of the year.

As police officers around Pierce and King counties and the Enumclaw Fire Department square up for the annual Boots and Badges charity basketball game, they know they’re not just playing to raise money for the fight against cancer.

They’re playing to support Cmdr. Greg Goral of the Black Diamond Police Department.

The game is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, April 12, at the Enumclaw High School.

Tickets can be purchased online for $10 at www.crowdrise.com.

Goral was diagnosed with cancer of the appendix, or appendiceal cancer, almost three years ago.

Appendiceal cancer is an extremely rare form of cancer. According to the International Scholarly Research Network, cancer of the appendix accounts for less than one percent of all cancers.

As Sgt. Brian Lynch of Black Diamond Police Department put it, the diagnosis was hard on the department and the community.

“This is a small department,” Lynch said. “It’s been devastating for us because he is a part of our family.”

For the last four years, money raised by the Boots and Badges game went to the American Cancer Society.

This year, 100 percent of the money raised will be donated to Cops with Cancer, a non-profit organization operated out of the Kent Police Department, to cover Goral’s medical bills and travel expenses for his fight against cancer.

“We are looking forward to this being not only a fundraiser but a celebration for him,” said Lynch. “This is by far the biggest event that Boots and Badges has ever put on.”

Cancer and community support

After the initial diagnosis in August 2012, Goral said he went through three surgeries to remove his cancer.

Each time, Goral was declared cancer free, but the cancer would return because it metastasized in his abdomen.

Last August, Goral underwent chemo and radiation therapy, but those treatments were also ineffective.

Eventually, Goral’s wife found a surgeon who specialized in appendix and abdomen cancer and he flew San Diego, Calif. for the surgery in February.Goral said the surgeon removed parts of his small intestine and other organs. “He did such a re-work inside of me,” Goral said. “I’m relearning how to eat again.”

Goral was in California for about a month before returning to Black Diamond, and the entire time, Lynch started planning the Boots and Badges game alongside Cops with Cancer.

“(Cops with Cancer) has a nest egg of money where they can help immediately, a little bit, but it’s the department’s responsibility to run fundraisers to put money into that officer’s account,” Lynch said. “Bills, travel expenses, anything that is related to the fight against cancer.”

But something happened when Lynch started going around to Black Diamond businesses to ask for sponsorship. Lynch described the community support as overwhelming.

“There’s such a difference between me going to businesses and saying, ‘I need your sponsorship for the American Cancer Society,’ and, ‘I need your help because one of my guys might die,’” Lynch said.

The first ever Boots and Badges made $10,000, which until this point was the record donation amount for the event.

This year, Boots and Badges has already raised more than $20,000 in donations, merchandise purchases and sponsorships, and the game hasn’t even started.

One of the games biggest donors this year was McGann Electric, which donated $5,000 to the event to be the title sponsor.

“I was floored. I could hardly talk. And it’s been like that everywhere we’ve gone,” said Lynch. “Places that we’ve got a $100 before have given $300 or $500. People who don’t even know him have shown up to the community center for the spaghetti feed we had a couple of weeks ago.”

The spaghetti feed event, held on March 5, raised $12,000 for Goral.

And it’s not just the Plateau that’s supporting this year’s charity game. Donations have come as far as Ocean Shores Police Department and the Yakima Police Department, not to mention businesses from all over the Pierce and King County.

“I’m overwhelmed with thanks,” Goral said. “What people have done, just from the local community… has been overwhelming.”

The biggest event

“(Boots and Badges) has grown to the point where this year, we are looking at a capacity crowd at the high school,” Lynch said.

Alongside the game, people can also participate in a silent auction, which Lynch said is also bigger than ever.

In fact, the auction was becoming so big that Howie’s Hometown Heroes has taken over organizing it.

Howie’s Hometown Heroes helped raise money for Howie Koch, 4, who died of neuroblastoma December 4, 2014. Howie was named Police Chief for a day in Black Diamond in August 2014.

“We’ve got sports tickets for the Mariners, the Sounders, the UW football game,” Lynch said, describing different silent auction items. “There’s a ton of different stuff.”

The charity game will be attended by two Seagals, and Lynch said there is a very good chance Seahawk linebacker Brock Coyle will also make an appearance.

Seahawk Superfan Big Lo will also be the master of ceremonies for the halftime show.

Henshaw’s Honda in Auburn is supporting the halftime show by anteing up two car give-aways that will go home with anyone who can make a basket from three-quarter court.

Raffle tickets for the trick shot can be bought at the game, and two raffle winners will be selected to try for a car.

And of course, the man of the hour will also be making an appearance.

Goral said that he will do his best to say something at the game, “but I don’t know if anything will come out but tears,” he said.

Reach Ray Still at rstill@courierherald.com or 360-825-2555 ext. 5058. Follow him on Twitter @rayscottstill for more news, pictures and local events.