Movember is an annual campaign that raises money for men’s health issues like prostate cancer and suicide prevention. Participants grow mustaches or beards to show their support.
And this year, our own police department decided to join in.
“When I came to night shift in June, the first thing my shift asked was to get involved in this program,” said NPD Commander Tim Ogan. “So all the commanders got together and we talked to the DC and we hit up the chief as a unified front and he was all on board with it because we are all one family and we all work together for it.”
Ogan raised the most funds for the cause – almost $1500. That helped the department total $10,549 over the month.
And some of the female employees joined in on the fun as well. They were able to vote on which participants grew the best beard, most stylish, best attempt, and creepiest.
“I’d like to thank my dad first of all for the genetics,” said Marco Scalzetti, who won the most stylish award among the patrol division. “But I’d also like to thank my barber for cleaning me up. I really took this seriously and went and got it professionally cleaned up and I think that helped.”
“I didn’t have much of a strategy because I kind of surprised myself that I was able to grow a full beard,” said Mike Son, who beat out Scalzetti for the most stylish across the department. “This is probably the most facial hair I’ve had in my entire life so I didn’t know what to expect.”
And it’s safe to say, giving back has grown on them.
“At the end of the day it’s to get money for men’s health issues, both physical and mental, so the more we can raise to solve those problems, the better off we’re all going to be,” said Ogan.
Naperville News 17’s Casey Krajewski reports.
