In early December, the staff and population at California State Prison, Corcoran, came together for a greater cause: to fight cancer.
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The walk to end cancer was the first of its kind at the Corcoran prison. According to Facility 3B staff member Monica Bonilla, donations were well over $10,000. By the end, over $10,600 was donated to Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera.
The walk was inspired by a vision from Eric Estrada to bring awareness to the destructive disease of cancer. His plan was to demonstrate a united front in the fight to end cancer, uniting staff with the incarcerated population.
Estrada spoke to the crowd on the 3B Facility as they gathered for the walk.
“Cancer isn’t prejudice or racist and affects everyone the same,” Estrada said. “It doesn’t matter if you are a correctional officer or an inmate (or) a woman or a man.”
Estrada said he lost his childhood friend to cancer.
“We may not all agree on politics or policy, but we can all agree that cancer is a horrible disease,” he said.
Facility B Men’s Advisory Chairman Benjamin Pennington, who also leads the Boot Camp Program, marched alongside Warden Tammy Campbell.
“We must put away our green and blue for these events,” Warden Campbell said.
Green and blue unite for a cause
More than 400 people walked around the yard in unison.
Conversation, music, smiles, and wide eyes filled the event, according to organizers.
DJ Eddie Alvarado, of Amity Foundation, pumped out the music for the 3B and 4B facilities.
Events like this are inspired by the California Model. This initiative uses the pillars of dynamic security and normalization as a tool to build safer communities through rehabilitation, education, restorative justice, and reentry.
“The walk to fight cancer turned out to be a great event,” said Chief Deputy Warden Ed Silva. “We had staff and (the population) come together for a worthy cause. I think a good time was had by all.”
Corcoran competition raises funds to fight cancer
Captains Forrest Chappel and Eric Garza rallied their staff and population to raise funds with all proceeds donated to Valley Children’s Hospital.
Coach Heidi Wippel came up with the idea to make this a competition to raise the most funds possible. Sgt. Paula Rodriguez was instrumental as one of the driving forces behind the event.
Valley Children’s Healthcare began 70 years ago as the vision of five civic-minded women who saw the need for a dedicated pediatric hospital in Central California.
Since then, the hospital has grown from 42 beds to one of the largest pediatric healthcare networks in the country.
This hospital has been one of the centerpieces of pride throughout the valley.
The committee, led by Coach Wippel, decided to make this a Corcoran tradition.
Lt. Robert Clifton, a committee member, said this is an example of cooperation and community involvement.
“The prison is dedicated to positive events like this and is actively planning future events. Making the Cancer Walk an annual event exhibits what staff and the incarcerated can accomplish together,” he said.
Article by Recreation Coach Heidi Wippel
Pictures and video by Hugh Neely, TV Specialist, and Jeff Bauer, TV Director (Specialist)
Corcoran cancer walk in photos
Learn more about the California Model on the CDCR website.
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