ROCHESTER — Police can be seen around the city wearing pink badges, and/or growing beards, for important causes.

While city police have done several things in past years to support breast cancer awareness, this is the first year for the pink badges.

"In the past we have had magnetic pink ribbons on the cruisers," Capt. Todd Pinkham said. "Our officers have won pink ribbon pins. This year we had a discussion and decided on the pink badges."

Pinkham said the badges are Velcro and that made the decision easy. 

"The badges we use on our outer carrier vests are also Velcro," Pinkham said. "We did that so new patrolmen, if they are promoted, change rank, can swap out the badge. We were in a meeting and someone suggested, 'Why not get pink Velcro badges, too?'"

The badges will be worn through the month of October. Pinkham said the purpose is to honor and support anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, those currently in treatment, survivors, and those who have been lost to cancer. He said it might also be a reminder for people to get screened for breast cancer.

Rochester police's Beards for Bucks effort is a fundraiser for the Child Advocacy Centers and the Granite State Children's Alliance - Just Giving.

"We have done this fundraiser for years," Pinkham said. "The Child Advocacy Centers are important. They help with cases of trauma and abuse."

Participating officers pay an entry fee, and they can get family and friends to donate through Facebook pages. 

"Our stipulation for participation at RPD is at least a $35 donation by anyone wishing to grow a beard for the month and help support this event," said Pinkham. "As of right now we have 14 participants. In addition to those 14, we also have some people that are not growing a beard, but still donating a $35 entry fee or donating to another officer's fundraising." 

"We give everything we raise to Beards for Bucks," said Pinkham. 

Pinkham said the beard growing also becomes a friendly competition for the officers, to see who can grow the best beard. 

To donate through Rochester police visit justgiving.com/team/RochesterNHPD.

Donations can be also made to cac-nh.org/beards-for-bucks.