The City of Sevierville Police Department (SPD) announced this week that it would participate in the national No-Shave November program. SPD is extending its participation in the national program to include October.

No-Shave November is a ”web-based, non-profit organization devoted to growing cancer awareness and raising funds to support cancer prevention, research, and education,” according to its website. No-Shave November is a “month-long journey during which participants forgo shaving and grooming in order to evoke conversation and raise cancer awareness.”

“We promise to keep raising money for cancer prevention, education, and research and to let that hair grow in the process! We want every participant to embrace their hair for the many cancer patients that lose theirs due to vigorous treatments,” the organization states on its website. “We believe that together, anything is possible, and we’ll get closer to eradicating cancer one whisker at a time!”

Those who choose to participate in the program officially will pay $30.00 per month, and the money raised will be donated to “501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations working diligently to treat and defeat cancer.”

Since 2009, those who have participated in No-Shave November have helped raise over $12,000,000 for cancer awareness, research, and prevention, according to the organization.

“The goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free. Donate the money you typically spend on shaving and grooming to educate about cancer prevention, save lives, and aid those fighting the battle,” the organization states on its website.

This marks the fifth year that the SPD has participated in the national program, according to a press release by the City of Sevierville.

“Hopefully, our efforts and those of others will help raise cancer awareness, save lives and aid those who are fighting this terrible disease,” SPD Chief Joseph Manning said in a statement.

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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.