Jail n’ Bail puts residents into custody for cancer

PENTICTON – Over $12,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society was collected at the first annual Jail 'n Bail fundraising event in downtown Penticton.

The RCMP took part yesterday, June 17, by pretending to arrest high profile members of the communith and holding them until the "perpatrators" raised bail by phoning friends and family for donations. Those arrested were taken to a jail set up at the corner of Main Street and Front Street.

Cancer Society spokesperson Tessa Dirksen said half the proceeds will go to the society, the other half to local 6-year-old cancer patient Myla.

“$12,000 is pretty amazing when you realize half of those 'arrested' didn’t know they were getting arrested,” Dirksen said, adding for many, it turned out to be a good way to find out who their friends were. Amongst those arrested were the mayor and city councillors.

“It was kind of neat to see how some people raised bail. One person was asked to raise $200, said 'That’s not enough’ and raised $1,000. Others were asking passers-by for lunch money,” Dirksen said. Others called friends, while some threw their plight out on the social network to raise bail.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.