CCA Facilities Team Up Against Cancer

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Adams County Correctional Center employees at their jail-themed camp site

CCA employees know that one of the best ways to gain ground in the fight against cancer is by taking one step at a time - literally.

The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life - an annual event that takes place in communities around the world - is one of the most popular events where CCA employees rally together. The purpose of Relay is to “represent the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.”

Although Relay events vary from place to place, three themes tie them all together: the Survivors Lap, the Luminaria Ceremony and the Fight Back Ceremony. Participants often camp out and spend 24 hours at the area where the event is held.

The event opens with the Survivors Lap, during which cancer survivors walk the track while other participants watch and celebrate their victories with them. Caregivers – family, neighbors and coworkers who have supported survivors – join in the lap, too. After dark participants hold a Luminaria Ceremony, in which lost loved ones are honored. Candles are lit inside sand-filled bags, each bearing the name of a person touched by cancer. Participants often walk a lap in silence, taking time to grieve and heal. Finally, during the Fight Back Ceremony, participants make a personal commitment to join the fight against cancer by doing something as simple as getting a screening test, quitting smoking or talking to elected officials about cancer. During the event, teams compete for

Many CCA facilities have been participating in the event for years. But North Georgia Detention Center, one of CCA’s newest facilities, formed its first Relay team this year and on June 4, 14 employees will take to the track.

“Our team is excited to join our corporate neighbors and to support such a great cause,” says Bonnie Abernathy, warden’s secretary and public information officer at North Georgia. “Our team set a goal of $1,600 and we hope to exceed our goal.”

To raise funds for Relay, North Georgia employees deposit donations in two large jugs – one for security, maintenance and Canteen staff, and another for administrative, medical and unit management staff. The two groups are competing to see which can fill its jug the quickest. In addition, the local Tim Hayes car dealership brought to the facility a 2010 Dodge Challenger as a show car, which will be raffled off to employees at several local companies. Each raffle ticket costs $5 and all sales will benefit Relay.

Like North Georgia, Adams County Correctional Center, is one of CCA's most recently opened facilities and for staff, getting involved in Relay this year was a first. A bowling tournament at a local bowling alley on April 15 brought in $864 for Relay. Eight teams competed, each comprised of six Adams employees and family members, and every team paid a $108 entry fee. The facility raised more than $10,000 prior to their local Relay event on May 4, where they won second place for their tent site and first place for the baton they decorated.

“Our theme was locking up a cure for cancer,” says Sommer Guedon, quality assurance coordinator at Adams. “At the relay we had a jail cell set up and you could lock someone up and bail them out, and the bail money went toward the event. All the employees wore black and white jail suits and we had some extras for the ‘prisoners’ to put on.”

This is Crowley County Correctional Center’s second year participating in Relay and the facility’s team of 15 will attend the event in July. In the meantime, they’re also busy collecting cash for the cause.

“In March we held a sloppy joe lunch fundraiser and we are currently selling candy bars,” says Malinda McMillan, bookkeeper at Crowley. “We also had an ‘all you can eat’ pasta lunch fundraiser in April. Our hope is to have a fundraiser every month until the event in July.”

In April, Eloy Detention Center hosted a car wash and hot dog sale to raise money for Relay. Although employees didn’t participate in this year’s Relay event, they washed over 50 vehicles and collected more than $600 for Relay. The facility also sold 250 cancer support bracelets, along with cancer support magnets, which generated another $400.

Willacy County State Jail’s Relay was held on April 16 and this year’s team – which was comprised of 56 adults and 15 children – raised $5,000. Using “CCA” as an acronym, the team has dubbed themselves the “Cancer Care Angels.”

“The Cancer Care Angels are proud to take an active part in the event for the seventh year in a row,” says Vangie Gutierrez, business manager at Willacy. “Let us never forget those who have gone, those who fight and those who live!”

Northeast Ohio Correctional Center staff raised funds by selling sweets during lunch and shift changes for a week. Employees also sold tickets for an all-day fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings on April 17. Throughout that day, any 15 percent of pre-tax food sales to ticket holders were donated to Relay.

Central Arizona Detention Facility employees have taken part in Relay for the last four years and their themes have ranged from Mardi Gras to pirates and disco. At midnight each year, there’s a “Mr. Relay” contest in which male team members dress up in formal evening gowns and go for a run.

“Our team won the first three years,” says Tatiana Murrieta, Quality Assurance coordinator at Central Arizona. “Our team is also known for being the loudest and the team who plays washers every year.”

Whiteville Correctional Facility held a chili cook-off, auctioned off the facility's front row parking spots and participated in a celebrity waiter dinner, generating roughly $700 for Relay.

"We all know people who have suffered through cancer and there are so many more being diagnosed everyday," says Nechol Owens, training manager and public information officer at Whiteville. "It just makes me happy to know that I am doing all I can to help build more Hope Lodges and fund scientific research for cures because you never know whether you could be diagnosed with cancer later in life."

Other facilities participating in Relay for life this year include Wheeler Correctional Facility, McRae Correctional Facility, Lee Adjustment Center, Lindsey State Jail, Cimarron Correctional Facility, Citrus County Detention Facility, and more.

“It’s truly inspiring to see so many people who have fought for their lives and won,” says McMillan. “When you see the total raised at the end of the Relay, you get a feeling of such accomplishment and pride. You know you couldn’t have done it alone, so you become very close to your team members when you all share the same experience. You know what you are doing is a good thing no one can take away from you.”

Is your facility participating in Relay for Life this year? Do you participate in Relay individually? Tell us about it or share what Relay means to you by sounding out.

By DeAndra Mack