Family, teachers, cops remember Lynn teen

LYNN – Rayquan Fregeau?s smile and “strength in the face of adversity” made a brief but strong impression on local police officers and educators who plan to attend funeral services for the 18-year-old this weekend.Fregeau died on Monday, more than a year after doctors initially diagnosed him with an aggressive form of soft tissue cancer. Less than a week before his death, he spent an hour with police officers and volunteers who donated $5,000 to Fregeau?s mother, Brenda Haynes, to help her meet her son?s medical expenses.The short visit made an impression on Police Chief Kevin Coppinger, who gave Fregeau gifts from the department, including a blanket bearing the Lynn Police Department logo.?It was a pleasure to talk to him, just for those few moments, and to know him for a short period of time,” Coppinger said.Fregeau?s battle with rhabdomyosarcoma limited his attendance at the Knowledge Is Power Program school in the Highlands to one day a week, but Haynes said her son?s fellow students and teachers provided him with a lot of support.?He was a wonderful, wonderful young man who will be sorely missed,” KIPP Executive Director Caleb Dolan said.Fregeau wore a collection of bracelets during his treatment visits to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, including one bearing the words, “Faith conquers everything.”Haynes said the rounds of chemotherapy and radiation presented her family with challenges, including financial ones, and taxed Fregeau.?Through it all Rayquan has been a pillar of strength,” she said.Fregeau recently traveled to Georgia where he met performers and talked with them about one of his favorite interests – music.?The trip helped him so much,” Haynes said.Cops for Kids with Cancer?s fundraising efforts provided the $5,000 donated to Haynes. Using references provided by hospitals, the volunteer organization gives checks to six families every month, and organizers gave Coppinger the opportunity to call Haynes prior to Fregeau?s visit to the Washington Street police station last Wednesday and tell her Fregeau had been picked to receive a donation.?It was quite an honor for me. What Cops for Kids does for families is tremendous,” he said.In an interview last week, Cops for Kids board chairman and retired Boston Police Department superintendent in chief Robert Faherty said $5,000 is the minimum donation the organization feels suitable to donate to families dealing with cancer treatment expenses.?Anything under that won?t really help,” Faherty said.A funeral service for Fregeau is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. at Goodrich Funeral Home, 128 Washington St., with visitation hours on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home. Coppinger said police officers will be present at the service and provide an escort for the family. Dolan said KIPP teachers will be among the mourners.