When one of their own was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016, Jordan Kalender, the president of PBA Local 134, the union representing the dedicated men and women of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, and his team rallied together. However, what started as a team effort to bring awareness to prostate cancer and raise research funds quickly transformed into a larger annual initiative that would make an impact in their community. 

Typically, officers at the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office have strict guidelines to adhere to for uniformity, including no beards. But, for No Shave November, an annual initiative in which men embrace their hair in honor of cancer patients who lose theirs, they received special permission from their then sheriff to let their hair grow wild and free - but only for a month. 

“We didn’t expect so many of our men to participate,” says Jordan. “We asked each member to donate $100 to participate, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.” 

The transformation in facial hair across the Sheriff’s Office garnered so much attention and support from their community, that Jordan saw the potential for more. 

“We asked our Sheriff if we can expand our efforts to support breast cancer research for the month of October,” recalls Jordan. “He was in total support. It was wild to see many of our officers, once limited to only white or blue undershirts, now proudly wearing pink shirts underneath their uniforms. Many of our women officers even painted their nails pink or had a pink streak in their hair, which is not allowed. Our department boldly declared their commitment to fighting breast cancer."

What started with about 20 employees participating in No Shave November transformed into a major movement within the Bergen County Sheriff's Department, with more than 200 officers and team members raising crucial funds for breast cancer and prostate cancer research at John Theurer Cancer Center. 

“The impact was visible to anyone who walked through the courthouse or the jail, a sea of beards and pink shirts, and that really showed our hope and support in the fight against both prostate and breast cancer,” says Jordan. “We wouldn’t be able to accomplish all of this without Sheriff Anthony Cureton and his administration. Every year, they let us bend some rules for this amazing cause and we are so happy to support breast cancer and prostate cancer at John Theurer Cancer Center.”

When the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office makes its annual gift to John Theurer Cancer Center this December, their lifetime fundraising will exceed $250,000! As we acknowledge Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and prepare to recognize Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in November, we are reminded of the incredible support we receive from our community. We thank Jordan, the PBA Local 134 and the Bergen Sheriff’s Office for their valiant efforts in support of breast cancer and prostate cancer research at John Theurer Cancer Center. 

To learn how to support John Theurer Cancer Center, contact Nancy K. Kennedy at nancyk.kennedy@hmhn.org or make a gift today at GiveHMH.org/JTCC.