Four Brazos County law enforcement agencies are taking part in the "Beard It Up and Color for the Cure" fundraising campaign, which runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 6, 2027. The Texas A&M University Police Department, Bryan Police Department, Brazos County Sheriff's Office and College Station Police Department are raising money for The Cure Starts Now - Central Texas Chapter, a nonprofit that funds pediatric brain cancer research.
The Central Texas chapter was founded in September 2016 by Vicky and Troy Bridier after the death of their 4-year-old daughter, Jade, from diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a form of pediatric brain cancer. The story said three Texas law enforcement families have lost a child under 10 to the same disease in the past five years.
Participating officers can donate to grow a beard or goatee. At some agencies, female officers can donate to paint their nails a color that represents a cancer that has affected them or someone they know. Civilian staff can donate to wear casual clothing to work during the campaign.
Brazos County agencies were the first law enforcement groups to join the campaign when it began in 2018. Since then, more than 120 agencies in 24 states have taken part and raised more than $830,000, according to the report. Police, fire and EMS agencies are invited to form fundraising teams.