Several members of the South Whitehall Township Police Department participated in “No-Shave November” for the first time this year.

The goal of the fundraiser was to grow awareness by embracing their hair, something many cancer patients lose, with officers growing beards or goatees.

Each officer needed to donate a minimum of $50 of his or her own money - typically spent on shaving and grooming - to participate.

Proceeds, $1,340, were given to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley.

“We selected PCFLV because they help local kids with cancer, some of whom live right here in our township,” said Chief John Christman at the start of the contest.

“We love giving back to the community.”

The department also held a contest to see who had the nice try/baby face (inability to grow or patchiest beard), most mature (grayest beard), thickest beard and People’s Choice.

Sgt. Steve Brown won for nice try/baby face.

Officer James Sandrock won for the most mature beard and Officer Jaryd Winkelbauer won for having the thickest beard.

Winning People’s Choice was K-9 Handler Patrol Officer Kyle Golden.

Golden spoke with The Press after having his beard shaved off on Dec. 1 at Salon James, South Whitehall.

“It was a little itchy,” Golden said. “I kept saying ‘what is this on my face?’”

Golden said he will miss the beard now that it is gone.

“It’s like I lost my best friend in the world,” Golden said, adding his K-9 companion Cirrus is going to miss it for a few seconds.

Patrol Officer Eric Kleintop and Detective Tim Shoudt also spoke with The Press about their beards.

Kleintop said it didn’t bother him once he shaved his neck.

“I’d pay the $50 every month to have it,” he commented while getting his beard shaved off.

Shoudt said he used a beard wash and oil on his because it started to itch in the beginning.

Melinda Hauff-Belletieri, owner of Salon James, commented on why she offered to shave the officers beards for free.

“I think it is a wonderful thing that they did raising money for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley,” Hauff-Belletieri said. “And we wanted to reciprocate by doing something nice for them.”

For South Whitehall female officers, administration staff and those officers who did not want to grow facial hair but still wanted to show support, the department allowed them to wear a wristband which read “PCFLV…Spreading the GOLD for kids with Cancer!” with a minimum $10 donation.

The police department’s “No Shave November” raised $1,340 for PCFLV.

To learn more about The Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley, visit pcflv.org.