Lehighton Borough police officers may appear a little rough around the edges, but it’s not because they refuse to adhere to the police officers’ grooming etiquette.

Their decision not to shave is all by design to help raise money for Dylan and Gavin’s Rainbow fund in conjunction with the third annual Snowflake 5K (and 1-mile option) to be held on Saturday.

Start time is 9 a.m. for the run, which begins and ends at Zion Church, Second and Iron streets, in Lehighton. The event will also include a bake sale and huge basket raffle.

The Snowflake 5K was lovingly inspired by the remembrance of two brothers, Gavin and Dylan Krum, who lost their lives after fast and fierce battles with childhood cancer and its treatments.

In memory of their sons, Dave and Lora Krum created Dylan and Gavin’s Rainbow, which provides support to families with children suffering from chronic conditions.

To help raise money toward the cause, the police department has participated in “No Shave November,” and will end it on Saturday, Detective Matt Arner said.

“We started a little late, but the reason that we’re going until Dec. 8 is because we’re ending this with the Dylan and Gavin’s Rainbow 5K Run,” Arner said. “At that point, we all donated money that will go to the Dylan and Gavin’s Rainbow fund, and we’ll be presenting the money at the event.”

Arner said the officers had the option to make a donation in order to have a relaxed facial grooming — such as beards — for the month.

“With that, we relaxed our grooming standards for the month, allowing us to have beards, mustaches, goatees, silly sideburns, something you wouldn’t normally see,” he said. “We think this is a great idea, and we can’t wait until next year, and hopefully we’ll get the community involved as well.”

Dylan and Gavin’s Rainbow is a nonprofit organization that reaches out to families who are experiencing a serious condition of a child, and also to families who have experienced child loss.

The mission of the organization is to reach out to families who are struggling with a serious condition of a child, or to families who have experienced the death of a child.

This is because during the very difficult days when the Krums’ boys were sick and hospitalized, they were overwhelmed with the generosity and love that surrounded them.

For more information, email dylanandgavinsrainbow@gmail.com, or call 610-377-6188.

Printable registration is available at www.dylanandgavinsrainbow.com.