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FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Inmates at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility helped raise $12,000 for cancer research through an event called the Insiders Relay for Life.
About 800 of the 1,250 inmates at the facility participated in the event sponsored by the American Cancer Society on Tuesday, The Messenger (http://bit.ly/1wpDob0 ) reported. They've been doing it for the past six years and inmates are responsible for most of the planning.
"It's grown to the point where three to four inmates will approach me in April and say we need to start working on the relay," said Netti Renshaw, associate warden for treatment. "It's five months of preparation for one day, and they're all willing to put in the hard work."
Inmates raise money for the relay in different ways, including selling shorts and clothing and holding carnival games.
On Tuesday, inmates walked, jogged, played games and stopped by booths to learn more about cancer. They also saw a performance by brain cancer survivor and musician Justin Anderson of Clear Lake. He told inmates their efforts mean a lot.
"This all goes to cancer research," he said. "Give yourselves a round of applause for all your work."
The event is similar to relays the American Cancer Society sponsors in communities all over the country each year.
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Information from: The Messenger, http://www.messengernews.net
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