Prisoners 'Race for the Cure' to benefit breast cancer foundation

An arch of pink balloons bobbed in a light October wind, standing out oddly against gray block and barbed wire at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center Sunday as prisoners lined up for their registration numbers in this, the Prison's first-ever Race for the Cure to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Inmates wearing denim and stocking caps milled about the yard as they waited for the event: gathering in groups of two to 8, while the Native Americans watched quietly from their sweat lodge in one corner of the yard.

More than 200 prisoners participated in the main yard, a field used often as an exercise area. They were complemented by the wheelchair-bound inmates that rolled around the asphalt path that circled buildings nearby. And spirits seemed high in the women's quarters, where about 17 prisoners circled the small dirt yard on the southeast corner of the grounds.

"They've raised over $1500 for the cause, mostly in $5 donations," management assistant Sue Hunt said, noting one prisoner donated $100.

Warden David A. Meligan had nothing but praise for this concept.

"The department is always looking at ways to create more programs for inmates," Meligan said. "This event instills a sense of responsibility . . makes them feel useful, and gets them involved in social issues."

"It makes them think outside the fences for a change," case worker Ken Grafton said, noting the benefits stretch across the board. Both the program and the inmates win.

Many of those running today had personal reasons: friends and relatives on the outside that had been affected by the disease. Slim Cameron, a tall, angular, soft-spoken prisoner who works as a clerk, was one of them.

"This is a good cause," he said, noting that his 47-year-old sister Carolyn Cameron just lost both breasts to the disease, and is presently undergoing chemotherapy.

Inmate Darren Cots said his stepfather just lost a lung to cancer, and he wanted to do something to make a difference. And inmateJohn Johnson has been in remission from testicular cancer for less than six months.

"I survived," Johnson said, noting with conviction that we have to figure out what causes all forms of this disease, and stop it.

The population of inmates is young at this medium security, primarily interim facility. The average age is around 36, and most are bound for other medium security prisons or camps. Almost all running for the cure will be there for the duration of their terms, and about a quarter of those have drawn life terms.

"We (usually) have between 1200 and 1300 inmates on site," Warden David Meligan said, noting there are about 667 jobs at the prison, so the majority of inmates work in some capacity such as kitchen help, janitorial help, or clerks. Every functioning area has some type of assignment for inmates, which not only helps to instill a work ethic, but also reduces state costs. Prisoners also work to pay back victims or the families of victims

Chaplain Jim Kelly, superintendent of religious services, has been working within prisons systems here for 6 years and feels this is a very positive thing for them.

"It makes them feel like they've done something," Kelly said. "They do care, when someone gives them a reason."

Proceeds from the race, run in conjunction with Reno's Race for the Cure, will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.