On Friday, GEO’s offender services manager Trevor Coles presented a cheque on behalf of the inmates for $1000 to the NSW Cancer Council.

Close to half the correctional centre’s inmates participated in the fundraising with the activities co-ordinator Michael Perkins running the event for the inmates.

Mr Coles said it was the first time the inmates had contributed to the Biggest Morning Tea as a fundraiser after they had asked to take part in the effort.

Mr Coles said there was some misconception with inmates fundraising.

“Just because they’re in jail, doesn’t mean they don’t have families who have been affected by cancer,” Mr Coles said.

It’s not just raising the funds to help the Cancer Council’s education and research projects, the inmates made their own morning tea.

The inmates enrolled in the Riverina TAFE’s hospitality training courses covering food handling, preparation and service created the coffee and the muffins under supervision.

NSW Cancer Council’s western NSW event’s co-ordinator Brianna Carracher said it was great to have the support of the inmates and offered a “massive thank-you”.

“We appreciate their efforts.”