Ending "No Shave November" with trip to barber shop
Updated: November 30, 2012
RANTOUL -- Police officers wrapped up a month-long event with a trip to the Downtown Barber Shop. They've been celebrating No Shave November to support one of their co-workers.
Police officers aren't usually supposed to grow a lot of facial hair. But these officers got special permission to do it just this month.
"For the month of November, for Testicular and Prostate Cancer Awareness, men who are able to grow beards and grow facial hair," said Eric Ruff, who is a patrol officer, "it's kind of our way to raise awareness."
It's part of a bigger campaign by the American Cancer Society, and one that hits close to home.
"I couldn't grow facial hair during chemo," said investigator Tim Rivest. "I had four rounds of chemo and two rounds of high dose chemo so there was probably about nine months there that I couldn't grow any hair at all."
Rivest is in remission now. His friends on the force have been by his side from the very beginning.
"Tim's a very close personal friend of mine," said Marcus Beach, who is an investigator. "Anytime that we can get together as a department and do things to show our support and love for our fellow coworkers, that's a good thing."
"They've been behind me ever since I got diagnosed in late October," said Rivest. "They've been supporting me through the entire thing."
"Both from members of the community and other law enforcement officers, we've really got positive feedback," said Ruff. "A lot of other departments are wanting to join up with this next year."
They hope to make this a tradition and stay by their friend through the rest of his journey. Officers from all over the department took part, including patrol, investigations and administration. The rest of the officers plan to shave later this week.
Police officers aren't usually supposed to grow a lot of facial hair. But these officers got special permission to do it just this month.
"For the month of November, for Testicular and Prostate Cancer Awareness, men who are able to grow beards and grow facial hair," said Eric Ruff, who is a patrol officer, "it's kind of our way to raise awareness."
It's part of a bigger campaign by the American Cancer Society, and one that hits close to home.
"I couldn't grow facial hair during chemo," said investigator Tim Rivest. "I had four rounds of chemo and two rounds of high dose chemo so there was probably about nine months there that I couldn't grow any hair at all."
Rivest is in remission now. His friends on the force have been by his side from the very beginning.
"Tim's a very close personal friend of mine," said Marcus Beach, who is an investigator. "Anytime that we can get together as a department and do things to show our support and love for our fellow coworkers, that's a good thing."
"They've been behind me ever since I got diagnosed in late October," said Rivest. "They've been supporting me through the entire thing."
"Both from members of the community and other law enforcement officers, we've really got positive feedback," said Ruff. "A lot of other departments are wanting to join up with this next year."
They hope to make this a tradition and stay by their friend through the rest of his journey. Officers from all over the department took part, including patrol, investigations and administration. The rest of the officers plan to shave later this week.
