NYPD officers cut their locks for a good cause Tuesday, giving back to the community and helping children who are battling cancer.

"Donating hair is something that is easy to do because it will grow back for us,” said NYPD Captain Eileen Downing. “It means the world to them, anything to make them happy."

"I've donated my hair about five times now,” added NYPD Inspector Christine Bastedenbeck. “The last time was about three years ago and I will continue to do it.”

The hair will be used to make wigs for children who've lost their hair from chemotherapy. The good cause was a part of the NYPD's “Beauty Against Cancer” event at police headquarters, where officers helped survivors of all ages feel and look good.

For Detective Leiddy Zuber and her husband, an NYPD captain, said this is about honoring family members.

"I have personal experience, my father-in-law passed away to kidney cancer," said Zuber.

The American Cancer Society estimates nearly 1.8 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year and more than 600,000 people will die from the disease.

"As a three-time cancer survivor, I know the power of empowering each other,” said Lt. Quathisha Epps. “There's no one person that is going to fight this alone. We will do it together."

The chief of the NYPD's Housing Bureau, James Secreto, said he has lived his entire life with the pain of losing a loved one to cancer.

"For me it was my mother,” Secreto said. “She passed away at 35 exactly one month before my sixth birthday."

Several NYPD employees who have been diagnosed with the disease shared their stories in a video presentation.

Organizers say last year for their first event they had about 400 people attended. They say word spread because, this year, they 500 people attended the event.

"They say the police are this, the NYPD is that. They should be here, they should see this. I don't know if this doesn't define us, I don't know what does," Police Commissioner O’Neill.

The commissioner says policing is about more than just crime fighting, it’s are about helping people. The officers we met at the event said Beauty Against Cancer is a true example of that.