The Edison Police Department is ranking nationally in their effort to raise awareness about cancer.

The officers are participating in “No Shave November,” an event to raise awareness and money for cancer research. The event embraces hair growth, since many cancer patients lose their hair during treatment.

Edison police have already raised more than $5,000, which is good enough to rank third in the nation.

“What we want to do is help prevent cancer. We want to help aid in research of cancer because obviously it's hit all of us,” says Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan. “Members of our department here, we lost a young officer to brain cancer last year. His father now has cancer. So it really hits home here to all of our officers."

This is the department’s third year of participating in “No Shave November.” They have always reached or went above their goal of $10,000.

Organizers suggest donors give the money they typically spend on grooming to the cause. More information about the event can be found at no-shave.org.