Aurora cops use razors to battle cancer

In an era of faster, fancier squad cars, some Aurora police officers are going for the sleeker aerodynamic look.

Roughly 12 officers and 25 residents have committed to shave their heads Sunday to culminate several weeks of raising money for childhood cancer research through the not-for-profit St. Baldrick's Foundation.

The initiative was started in 2000 in New York City by a group of friends who wanted to raise money to help children with cancer. Since treatments often cause patients' hair to fall out, they decided to shave their hair in return for donations. Being of Irish descent, they started a tradition of holding the fundraiser near St. Patrick's Day.

As late as Wednesday afternoon, the team had raised nearly $8,000 and organizer Dave Adams said by the end of Sunday's event he hopes to be able to donate more than $15,000 to the cause.

This year, the "shavees" will be honoring 4-year-old acute lymphoblastic leukemia victim Luke Behrends of Adams' hometown of Minooka, and 13-year-old osteosarcoma victim Nicole Diehl of Aurora.

"Cancer is scary no matter who it affects and these kids are fighters so we're doing it for them," said Adams, an Aurora investigator. "If we can find a cure for kids cancer, it will carry over to adults and maybe we can end this thing."

The shaving will take place between 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday at Mike and Denise's Pizzeria, 1760 North Farnsworth Ave. Residents also are welcome to sign up and shave their locks to raise money for the event.

Several of the officers typically keep their hair short but Adams said they've been growing it out for a few months so the shave will have a more dramatic effect.

"There's a lot of fluffy headed officers driving around Aurora right now," Adams said Wednesday. "I know they're all looking forward to getting a haircut, but I think some of them are also pretty nervous about how they will look bald."

In addition to the "shavees," Adams said one woman has signed up to have 12 inches of her hair cut off and donated to "Locks of Love," a public, non-profit organization established in 1997 that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

Last year, the officers netted about $6,000 for the cause with $5,000 more being raised at the restaurant for a total of $11,000 to fund cancer research.

According to the foundation's Web site, 498 shaving events have taken place thus far in 2008, raising about $10.2 million to support cancer research and fellowships.

For information, contact Adams at (630) 801-6537. A special account also has been established at the Aurora Police Credit Union, 350 North River Street. The event's Web site can be found at www.stbaldricks.org/events/event_info.html?EventKey=2008-200.

If you go

What: Aurora police officers and residents will shave their heads to raise money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

Where: Mike and Denise's Pizzeria, 1760 North Farnsworth Ave., Aurora

When: From 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Cost: Free; donations accepted for those shaving their heads

Info: (630) 801-6537 or www. stbaldricks.org/events/event_info.html?EventKey=2008-200