Police lose their locks for cancer cause
Bald is the new look du jour for 90 police staff who lost their locks in a mass head shave to support young cancer sufferers.
The Bald Bobbies group, made up of police staff from throughout the Central District, aimed to raise $10,000 for teen cancer organisation Canteen, but instead came away with $30,000, organiser Inspector Brett Calkin said.
A shave was held on Thursday afternoon in Palmerston North’s The Plaza shopping centre, Whanganui and New Plymouth’s city centres, and Levin’s Te Takere library.
The amount raised was ‘‘better than we dreamt, so we’re very happy’’, Calkin said.
Some officers had hauled in more than $1000 sponsorship each.
In Palmerston North, four hairdressers from the Rodney Wayne salon ran the shears over 26 people in about 40 minutes.
‘‘We made it pretty simple for them. We all lined up and they put the number zero blade on, and ran it across the heads,’’ Calkin said.
‘‘So we’re all pretty bald now. It feels a little bit cold for a few days, but it grows back – when you’re my age you just hope it doesn’t grow back grey.’’
He hoped Manawatu¯ ’s notorious cold winds would be gentle, and the Sun would be mild for the bald bobbies on the beat.
‘‘There are uniform beanies but only for cold weather stations, so if the guys are out they’ll be wearing their uniform hat or bald.’’
Calkin said the event was first held in 1996, and is brought back every five years or so, to keep it fresh.
‘‘It worked because we got 90 cops on board who are all passionate about the cause. . A lot of the people connected to this have relatives and friends that have been on their own cancer journey, so they could really relate to it.’’
Calkin said Canteen could choose how to spend the money, and it was considering running a camp or buying a new van.