Staff and inmates from Wellington’s Macquarie Correctional Centre will wear the track thin on the facility’s sporting field, running the equivalent of an Olympic marathon within the confines of their space to raise money for breast cancer patients.

Over Easter the marathon runners will run 212 laps of the sporting field to equate to the 42.2 kilometres required of an Olympic marathon, in a bid to raise more than $15,000 for men and women experiencing breast cancer. 

Macquarie Correctional Centre Governor Brad Peebles said that with both staff and inmates affected by breast cancer, with almost 20,000 people a year diagnosed. 

“Inmates are largely powerless to do much for loved ones but are genuinely excited by the opportunity to help others via The McGrath Foundation,” Mr Peebles said. 

“Staff have helped inmates develop a strong social conscience; they want to show the community and their loved ones they are capable of pro-social and selfless action.” 

After the inmates had the idea, they wrote a letter to staff suggesting the uniting of both for a worthy cause. 

“While treatments have improved, critical funding is still needed to support the brilliant women and men who are treating this disease and searching for a cure,” the letter said. 

“We hope the money raised can assist with research and help in the care for patients, throughout their treatment and beyond,” it continued.  

Already, the fundraiser has surpassed $10,000 in donations. 

For the last three months the correctional centre has been in training for the marathon, with inmates undergoing rigorous practice runs, exercise regimes and aerobic exercises.

Participants will run the 212 laps either individually or as part of a relay team. 

Some inmates who aren’t participating will be a part of a camera crew filming the event as part of a short documentary film.

Family and friends of staff and inmates can sponsor participants on a per-lap basis, with a cheque to be presented to the McGrath Foundation next month.