Incarcerated men donated money and artwork to help conquer breast cancer. The accumulated funds were issued to Avon Breast Cancer Emergency Fund and the Women’s Cancer Research Center at a ceremony inside the San Quentin’s Protestant Chapel.
“It was a wonderful feeling that we are making a difference in people’s lives,” said San Quentin Cares co-founder Steve Pascascio. “A lot of us have moms and sisters and aunts that could catch breast cancer. I don’t know anyone in my family that has it, but I’m still an advocate for it.”
Approximately, $2,034 was raised from the Breast Cancer Walk held on San Quentin’s Lower Yard in July.
Margaret Peggy was there to receive the check for Avon.
She spoke about how the more than $50,000 raised between 2008 and 2015 by men incarcerated in San Quentin contributed to finding a cure.
About $1,355 was raised from an auction held in San Francisco. Artwork donated by men inside San Quentin was sold, according to S.Q. Cares co-founder Sam Johnson.
Parolees Troy William, Clinton Martin and Coach Sweeny were at the auction, and they bought pieces, according to Johnson, whose father died of cancer.
He saw his dad just before he died and cried at the sight of the 74-pound man who used to weight 250 pounds. He also lost his brother-in-law and sister-in-law to cancer.
“Fighting cancer makes me feel like part of society. It makes me feel active. Even though we are behind these walls, we are still able to reach out, reach beyond these wall and let society know we want to be a part. It’s a form of repentance,” said Johnson.
S.Q. Cares’ Nghiep Ke Lam spoke about the history of the Breast Cancer Walk inside S.Q.
Former San Quentin resident Will Packer approached Pascascio with the idea of a having a breast cancer walk. Pascascio was the chairman of the 1000 Mile Club and took the concept to his sponsor, Laura Bowmen. She liked it and agreed to sponsor the event. Now it has its own sponsors under S.Q. Cares.
“This is something that I enjoy doing. I will continue fighting against breast cancer from parole,” added Lam. “The best part of humanity is when we love each other enough to make each life matter.”
Lam paroled Dec. 7.
“We are grateful that the administration allows us to keep the event going – I thank Warden Ron Davis, Associate Warden Kelly Mitchell, and Community Partnership Manager Steve Emrick,” said Pascascio. “We are grateful to have outside sponsors: Shannon Gordhamer, Chris and Kim Bailey and Berkeley Donovan.”
Lam commented, “The people that received the checks were so grateful. Because we are in prison and we make that sacrifice, we don’t make much money; we made a sacrifice to give to this worthy cause.”