GLOUCESTER — Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken and Chief Edward Conley are pleased to announce that the Gloucester Police Department has raised $5,250 to support brain cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Each year, during November and December, members of the Gloucester Police Department who participate in the annual Growing Hair Because We Care fundraiser are allowed to forgo the department’s facial hair restrictions in exchange for a $100 donation in support of cancer research. Female officers are also welcome to join the effort each year by dying a streak of their hair a different color.

This year 52 members of the department participated in the initiative, raising the most the department has ever raised through the annual fundraiser. A Gloucester District Court employee also donated $50 to support the department’s effort.

“The Growing Hair Because We Care fundraiser is a meaningful, fun way for the department to come together to support lifesaving research, and it was remarkable and heartwarming to see so many officers and supervisors come together this year to make an impact,” Chief Conley said. “In particular, I’d like to recognize and thank Officer Joseph Parady, who organizes this initiative each year.”

This is the sixth year the department has held its Growing Hair Because We Care Fundraiser.

“The Gloucester Police Department’s annual fundraiser to support cancer research has long been a special tradition within the department, and it is wonderful that so many of them joined in to make this year’s efforts the most successful yet,” Mayor Romeo Theken said. “Congratulations to the entire department, this was a remarkable donation that will support much needed research.”

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