Six Whanganui policemen go bald for CanTeen

Whanganui's child protection detective Paul Burn is losing the locks to support teens with cancer, local CanTeen representative Emma Webby on the right. Photo/Bevan Conley

Six Whanganui bobbies are going bald on Thursday at Majestic Square to support a teen cancer society.

One hundred police staff from the Central District are uniting in a campaign that aims to raise $10,000 for CanTeen - a fundraiser the police force did 21 years ago.

Whanganui's child protection detective, Paul Burn, will be joining five of his colleagues to shave their locks.

The father-of-two said he couldn't imagine what it would be like to have a child go through cancer let alone be the child suffering.

"I had a mate who got cancer in his teens. It went away and then it came back when he was in his 30s and he died just recently so he has been on my mind a lot while I've been fundraising."

Mr Burn said the closest he'd come to being bald was a number four cut during police college six years ago.

"But I'm pretty excited about it, it's a great cause and to be honest I'm in desperate need for a hair cut."

The detective had so far managed to raise just over $800.

"I'm hoping to get to a $1000 but we'll see how we go.

"Everyone has been really supportive and I think that comes down to the amazing cause."

Whanganui CanTeen representative Emma Webby said there were more than a dozen teens battling cancer in Whanganui and more than 180 are diagnosed each year in the country.

CanTeen helps 13 to 24-year-olds dealing with cancer and their families, and has been doing so for almost 30 years.

The other Whanganui policemen going bald are Keith Thomson, Neil Forlong, Paul Miller, Aaron Bunker and Rob Dickson.

Police in Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatū, Horowhenua and Tararua were taking part in the fundraiser.

Five signs of youth cancer
1. Tiredness
2. Changes in weight
3. Unusual lumps or swelling
4. Moles that change
5. Pain that doesn't go away