Five local cops - one from Surrey and four from Delta - are joining other officers and law enforcement officials from around the province this month for the annual Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley.

The team will kick off the nine-day, 900-kilometre epic ride today in Surrey and will tour through Ladner and Tsawwassen on Friday, making stops at several schools.

Cops for Cancer is an annual campaign that raises funds for the Canadian Cancer Society while also spreading awareness about cancer prevention.

Tour de Valley takes riders from the Lower Mainland to Boston Bar and back over nine days from Sept. 27 to Oct. 5.

Surrey RCMP Const. Scott Nickel is riding. This is his third year participating in the tour. His motivation doesn't get any more personal.

"I'm a childhood cancer survivor," he shared. "We got it early."

Nickel beat Burkitt's lymphoma when he was 13, after undergoing chemotherapy. He has been a Surrey Mountie for more than five years and these days patrols Whalley as a general duty officer.

Representing Delta police on this year's tour are: Staff Sgt. Sharlene Brooks and constables Dave Ogilvy, Catherine Fiddick and Elaine Hughes.

Brooks and Hughes are first time riders, while Fiddick is returning for her second tour and Ogilvy has been involved with Cops for Cancer for several years.

MASS SHEARING

If you're visiting the Surrey courthouse, better wear shades. That's because things will be a lot brighter over there after seven local Mounties, a sheriff, a corrections officer and a young boy get their heads shaved as part of a campaign to raise money for cancer research.

Surrey's top cop, Supt. Bill Fordy, will be one of those climbing into the barber's chair today. Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts will relieve him of his hair, with the help of a straight razor.

She's looking forward to it, too. "I'm going to enjoy it, absolutely," Watts said.

The mass shearing was expected to occur at noon. This stunt had already raised more than $3,500 by press time, to fight childhood cancer.

Adam Boran, 6, will join the cops in getting his head shaved, in memory of his grandpa, who died of cancer.