Baylor Department of Public Safety Joins the ‘Beard It Up and Color for the Cure Campaigns’ to Raise Money for Childhood Cancer Research

Media Contact: Tonya B. Hudson, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-710-3321
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by Cerenity Austin, student newswriter, Baylor University Media and Public Relations

WACO, Texas (Oct. 30, 2020) – The Baylor University Department of Public Safety (BUDPS) will join The Cure Starts Now - Central Texas for the third annual “Beard It Up and Color for the Cure Campaigns” to raise money for childhood cancer research.

Starting November 1, BUDPS staff will donate $30 to grow a beard or $15 to grow a goatee. Female staff will donate $15 to paint their nails a color that coincides with a cancer that has affected them or someone they know.

Although most departmental policies prohibit male officers from wearing a beard or goatee and female officers from wearing colored nail polish, the policy will be relaxed for the month of November through December 17 to raise awareness and funding for childhood cancer research known as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG).

“The Beard It Up/Color for the Cure Campaign is a way for emergency first responders, including members of the BUDPS, to support the critical research for DIPG childhood cancer,” said Baylor Police Chief Brad Wigtil. “We are hoping the Baylor community joins BUDPS in the battle against DIPG.”

In 2019, the campaigns raised more than $216,000 with $188,000 coming from 57 law enforcement agency partnerships nationwide. All police, fire and EMS agencies are challenged to donate, and the public is also encouraged to join the fight as well by donating to The Cure Starts Now.

All money raised through the campaigns goes directly to pediatric cancer research.

The Fight for the Cure

The Cure Starts Now - Central Texas Chapter was established by Vicky and Troy Bridier in September of 2016 in the memory of their daughter, Jade. Jade Bridier passed away at the age of four from DIPG, an aggressive and deadly brain tumor which is always terminal.

Jade's story became an inspiration to hundreds of thousands of people and introduced them to the plight of children and families who are impacted by pediatric cancer. Within the last three years, three Texas law enforcement families have lost children under the age of 10 to DIPG.

Visit the Beard It Up and Color for the Cure website or contact Vicky Bridier, Central Texas chapter director for more information.

ABOUT BAYLOR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

The Baylor University Department of Public Safety serves as an umbrella department for the Baylor University Police Department, emergency management, fire safety, global safety and security, technical security and parking and transportation. The DPS is set on providing students, faculty and alumni with excellent security and safety through instant notification systems, extensive surveillance cameras and highly trained staff.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 19,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.