Thursday, April 29, 2004 | 9:42 a.m.
Inmates at the Southern Desert Correctional Center at Indian Springs are paying their debts to society and -- when it comes to raising money for breast cancer research -- a little more.
The male inmates, spurred by the Vietnam Veterans Association Post 558, a jailhouse chapter with 35 members, have raised $6,500 in cash and pledges for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure on Saturday.
"We have made our mistakes, but we haven't given up on society," said Vietnam Veterans Chapter President Mario DeLara, 51, who has served 20 years of his murder sentence -- life with the possibility of parole.
"This is one of several charities we help each year. One of our other projects is repairing and donating bicycles to needy children. Last year, we provided 100 bikes through that program. We also support Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Shade Tree Shelter, among others."
DeLara and Vietnam Veterans Chapter Secretary James More, as well as members Andy Cordova, Lee Routh, Ralph Kenmore and William England, spearheaded the fund-raiser with the assistance of Associate Warden Sheryl Foster. This is the first time the event has been held at the facility, prison officials said.
The Komen race is a series of the more than 100 5-K races nationwide, with more than 1.5 million participants expected this year.
Mimi Shimp, chairwoman for the ninth annual Las Vegas Komen Foundation Race for the Cure, is amazed at what the inmates did: collecting money through donations solicited jail door-to-jail door from about 450 inmates.
"We were just blown away by what these inmates have done," said Shimp, a breast cancer survivor of five years. "These men made mistakes, committed crimes. But here they are doing something positive and they deserve to be recognized for it."
The inmates donated money earned from their prison jobs and funds that relatives and others had placed in their prison accounts.
Shimp and other Komen officials say they will attend the inmates' 5-K race inside the prison fences at 1 p.m. Sunday. Tom Elgas, an inmate serving two to six years for narcotics possession, said he got involved in the event because he has personally seen what cancer can do to not only victims but also to their families.
"I lost my father to lung cancer five years ago this month," Elgas, 41, said. "I wanted to help not only because of that, but also because I will one day return to the community and this is one way of keeping in touch with it."
Last year 11,763 people competed in either the 5-kilometer or mile runs on Las Vegas city streets, including 607 breast cancer survivors who wore distinctive pink shirts. That event raised a local record $489,000, Shimp said.
This year, Shimp said, an estimated 14,000 participants are expected to raise greater than a half-million dollars. Participants will receive a T-shirt for their $25 entry fee through Friday or $35 fee on race day Saturday.
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