The beards are coming back. 

After collecting over $11,000 for charity during November and December of 2018, Knoxville Police Department officers will once again grow out their beards while raising money for four different causes, beginning officially on October 1, 2019. 

KPD officers are typically prohibited from donning a beard, but those rules will be relaxed for the final three months of 2019. Officers wishing to grow out a beard will make a donation for each month of their participation. 

During OctoBeard, all funds raised will benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation, while the funds collected during No Shave November will be divided between the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. In Triple-Down December, or DecemBeard, all funds will go to the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. 

Last year, the KPD amassed $7,195 that was distributed between the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and the Prostrate Cancer Foundation, while raising an additional $3,985 for the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. 

Links to donate to each of the organizations that the officers are supporting over the next four months can be found below: 

National Breast Cancer Foundation - Donate
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation - Donate
Prostate Cancer Foundation - Donate
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital - Donate