Supporters grow mustaches and beards during November to raise funds and bring more attention to health issues.
Marlton residents may be familiar with the phrase “the long arm of the law,” but this November residents can also get used to thinking about the long “beard” of the law when it comes to the Evesham Township Police Department.
Throughout November, more than 70 officers with the department are participating in the “No Shave November” campaign.
The annual campaign asks supporters to grow mustaches and beards during November to raise funds and bring more attention to issues dealing with men’s health, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s suicide rates.
For the ETPD’s specific campaign, police officials say the department is aiming to bring awareness to all types of cancer, including the testicular and prostate cancers focused on by many of the other “No Shave November” campaigns across the globe.
According to statistics shared by ETPD from the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men, with more than 161,000 men estimated to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017 and more than 26,000 estimated to die from the disease.
According to statistics, more than 2.9 million men in the United States live with prostate cancer today, and one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Also according to statistics from the American Cancer Society, the most common cancer in men between ages 20 to 24 is testicular cancer, with more than 8,800 men estimated to be diagnosed with the disease in 2017 and more than 400 estimated to die.
According to the ETPD, the “No Shave November” campaign is meant to elicit conversation and raise cancer awareness, research and education.
Members of the department participating in the campaign are doing so on a voluntarily basis, with each member set to make a donation to cancer research and help support cancer prevention.
According to the department, the department has already raised more than $3,700 of its $5,000 goal.
“This terrible disease has an impact on every one of us, whether it is our family, friends or even our own personal fight,” Chief of Police Christopher Chew said. “We must continue to work together and fight this disease, find a cure and continue to save lives.”
By bringing attention to the issues police are also bringing attention to the survival rates of those who are diagnosed with prostate or testicular cancer early in the progression of their disease.
According to the American Cancer Society, there are limited treatment options for those who do not have their prostate or testicular cancer diagnosed in early states.
However, for those who do, the five-year survival rate for prostate cancer caught early enough is close to 100 percent, and the five-year survival rate of testicular cancer caught early enough is 99 percent.
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer can be detected by a blood test, and testicular cancer be detected by a self screening.
According to ETPD officials, the department is asking the public to join it in its awareness campaign by starting conversations with family and friends.
Residents who wish to help members of the ETPD as they raise money for cancer research can also make a donation by visiting the department’s GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/ETPD-NoShaveNovember.
Donations will be accepted throughout November.
