By Taylor MacPherson

Jail-N-Bail ‘inmates’ raise funds for cancer research

Oct 19, 2017 | 2:00 PM

Jail isn’t often a positive experience, but after the bars slam shut today a group of Prince Albert “inmates” will have fun raising money for a great cause.

The Canadian Cancer Society’s 28th Jail-N-Bail got underway this morning in P.A. The annual fundraising event sees Prince Albert residents “arrested” and locked up in a mock jail located at the Gateway Mall. After pleading their cases before a prosecutor and judge, the inmates have to raise a set amount of bail money in the form of pledges in order to secure their release.

Charlene Bernard, the cancer society’s Prince Albert unit manager, said the inmates often find themselves charged with crimes such as making a poor fashion choices or working too hard. Some of the inmates turn themselves in, she said, while detectives seek out and “arrest” others.

“Once you’ve raised your bail we’ll let you go and you can get a pardon from the judge,” she said. “We just have a lot of laughs.”

Bernard said organizers are specifically looking to lock up some of Prince Albert’s most notable athletes this year, so long as they don’t outrun the pursuing detectives.

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“Every year we have our Most Wanted list, and this year we have members of the sports hall of fame,” Bernard said. “We know they’re hardworking people.”

Organizers are hoping to raise at least $14,000 through today’s pledges, Bernard said. The event raised more than $23,000 last year, she said, and all for a great cause.

“The money goes to support the programs of the Canadian Cancer Society, which include research and programs that help cancer survivors, cancer patients and their families,” she said.

The Honourable Ryan Finch, of Lake Country Co-op, was presiding over the event as the judge. Finch said he planned to take a tough-on-crime approach with the inmates before him today.

“I’m going to crack down as hard as I need to, to raise as much money as possible,” he said.

Finch said he had already set bail for crimes such as squealing the tires on a bicycle and wearing sweat pants with elastic cuffs.

Barry Mihilewicz, one of the “Most Wanted” jailbirds, spoke to paNOW through the bars of his cell after turning himself in early this morning.

“I’m in for singing too many sad songs and for throwing too many flags on the football field,” Mihilewicz said. “And for playing rock-n-roll over the age of 50.”

Mihilewicz said the event is good fun for everyone involved, but it has a serious side as well. Everyone has been affected by cancer, he said, which makes the cause incredibly important.

“This disease has touched everyone’s life at one time or another,” he said. “Right now a very good friend of mine is going through a battle with cancer, and that’s who I’m thinking of while I’m doing this.”

This year’s event raised $9,400 this year. The top fundraiser of the day was Dwight Bergstrom who raised over $2,300. 

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews