ST. LOUIS — Despite heavy rain, hundreds of supporters gathered at Johnny’s Hideout for a fundraiser benefiting injured Ferguson police officer Travis Brown. Brown has been in the ICU for more than six weeks after suffering a severe brain injury during a protest on August 9, marking the 10-year anniversary of Michael Brown’s death.
The event, “Golfing 4 Heroes,” was originally planned as a golf tournament. However, due to the rain, the golf portion was canceled, and the fundraiser was moved indoors. Organizers, including Rick Pogue, quickly adapted to keep the event going.
“We don’t operate like most golf tournaments. When it rains, we don’t just say ‘see you next year.’ We brought the party to Johnny’s Hideout,” Pogue said. The goal was to raise over $20,000 to help Brown’s family with medical expenses.
St. Louis Blues mascot Louie made a special appearance, and hundreds of people turned out to show support. Organizers expressed the community’s desire to help Officer Brown recover.
Daniele Kaestner, a nurse, shared her motivation: “As someone in the medical field, I strongly feel we need to support this family in their time of need.”
The man accused of assaulting Officer Brown now faces multiple charges. Brown, a 15-year veteran of the Ferguson Police Department, has undergone several surgeries and is making progress toward recovery.
Brown’s family has set up a GoFundMe page to support his children, and donations can be made there.
