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Beard shave raises funds for cancer research

Phil Friesen, an employee of the Abbotsford Police Department, recently raised more than $6,000
Phil Friesen with his daughter Amy after his beard was shaved off.
Phil Friesen with his daughter Amy after his beard was shaved off.

An employee of the Abbotsford Police Department (APD) recently raised more than $6,000 for the BC Cancer Foundation by shaving off the beard that he had spent years growing.

Phil Friesen, a dispatcher in the APD’s communications operations centre, raised the funds on behalf of his 24-year-old daughter Amy, who was informed earlier this year that she had a large mass on her adrenal gland.

On April 15, surgeons removed a 10 kg tumour, as well as her adrenal gland, gall bladder, appendix and part of her liver.

Amy was diagnosed with a rare cancer called adrenocortical carcinoma.

Half of the funds raised by Friesen will go toward a study on rare types of tumours, and the other half will go to the B.C. Cancer Agency’s cancer centre in Abbotsford Regional Hospital.

Friesen’s beard was shaved off on Sept. 9 by Amy outside the APD.

Donations can still be made online at donate.bccancerfoundation.com/goto/PhilsBeard