A show of solidarity for their colleagues
Sgt Mackay-Lear, 34, who has just started his second round of chemotherapy, was warned the treatment would make him lose his hair. So his colleagues decided to show their solidarity with him by shaving theirs off too.
James, who himself has strong family connections to cancer, set his clippers to the zero setting and began shaving the locks from the officers at Kensington police station in Earl’s Court Road, west London.
Greg was not well enough to attend the event but he said:
“I transferred to Kensington from Scotland Yard where I spent four years in the counter terrorism unit. I’d only been here five months when I was diagnosed which is why the support has been so unbelievable.
“I don’t smoke and only drink as a treat and I’ve always seen myself as indestructible – taking part in extreme marathons, running with the bulls in Pamplona – but this goes to prove I’m not.”
Why James Brown wanted to get involved
Cancer is a disease James Brown is only too aware of. He lost his eldest sister Noleen to ovarian cancer and another sister, Marina, is currently being treated for brain cancer. An aunt and two uncles are also affected.
James said:
“One of my relatives, Johnny Davis, is a police officer here, and when he called me and asked me if I would help out, I didn’t hesitate. Cancer has taken its toll on my family – it’s always on my mind - so I’m happy to do all I can to stop it doing the same to others.
“Coming here to shave the heads of 23 people was nothing – they were a lot easier to deal with than some of my celebrity clients!”
More than 1,900 new cases of testicular cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK, largely affecting men in the 20-44 age group. However, it responds well to treatment and nine out of ten men are cured.
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