Celebrities do time for those with cancer

Langley MP Mark "The Fed" Warawa; Langley Township Mayor Rick "The Grocer" Green; lawyer John "The Mouthpiece" Campbell; teacher and ukulele maestro Peter "Two Short" Luongo; Langley Advance edit or Bob "Inky Fingers" Groeneveld, and former Langley City fire chief Jim "Killer Poet" McGregor.

While their names haven't stained the local crime blotter, and aren't synonymous with noted early 20th century gangsters such as Charlie "Lucky" Luciano or Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd, all of the aforementioned "offenders" did time Wednesday under the watchful eye of judge-for-a-day and former Township councillor Howie Vickberg.

They were among those put into custody, so to speak, for a jail and bail benefiting the 2010 Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley.

While sitting in plain view of law-abiding passersby at Willowbrook Shopping Centre, the local celebrities gained freedom by raising "bail money" donated to a charity. In this case, the charity is the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS).

The society's Cops for Cancer teams raise money to support children with cancer, both to fund research for a cures, and to send kids with cancer or in recovery to summer camp.

By all accounts the fundraiser was a huge success, raising more than $6,900.

Many of the temporary cell-mates had a reason, for some a personal one, for allowing themselves to be thrown into the Crowbar Hotel.

"Cancer has taken some important people out of my life, and has kept people who would have been important to me from coming into my life," said Groeneveld, who raised roughly $900 through bail proceeds.

Tongue planted firmly in cheek, Warawa said he never saw his incarceration coming.

"I woke up this morning thinking this is going to be a good day and here I am in jail!" Warawa said. "I'm hoping I can raise bail, here. The one good thing is my bail is fairly low so it means I'm not a high risk to the community."

On a serious note, Warawa was happy to raise money for such a worthy cause.

"The Canadian Cancer Society - it's incredible what they do," Warawa said. "They are the lead organization in Canada to help coordinate the fight against cancer, and everyone of us has had a loved one... who has had issues with cancer. Together as Canadians we are fighting this."

As for his chances of being "bailed out," Warawa said he is in good hands thanks to his riding.

"Langley is one of the most generous communities in Canada, so if I was ever going to be locked up, this is the place to be locked up," Warawa said.

Luongo has had family members affected by cancer.

Three he said "come immediately to mind" are his oldest uncle, who succumbed to the disease, and two cousins, who have survived.

"Those are people who I think of when I think of events like this and when I think of doing what I can to support them," Luongo said.

tlandreville@langleyadvance.com

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