VALLEY — Chambers County Sheriff Sid Lockhart and Major T.J Wood spent Friday morning behind bars, but it was for a good cause.

The two representatives from the sheriff’s office were raising money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama. The sheriff and major were locked up in front of Renasant Bank in Valley with the bond set at $2,500.

“I enjoy doing this because there are people in my family who have survived cancer,” Wood said. “That’s why it’s really important to me to raise funds for the research to try to figure out what we can do to stop this. It’s taken over a lot of families and a lot of lives.”

The bank began raising money during October last year, according to branch manager Nancy Warren-Holland. In 2018, the Valley branch alone raised over $5,000 at the end of the month, with all proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama.

The sheriff’s office teamed up with the bank Friday with Lockhart and Wood in prison-like jumpsuit costumes for over two hours.

“I’m feeling a little warm,” Lockhart said from behind bars, “but it’s for a good cause. We’ve had a good turnout so far this morning. I just need a hacksaw, if you have one, to break out of here.”

Lockhart is a breast cancer survivor after being diagnosed in 2002. The chances of a male being diagnosed with the disease is only 1 percent, and Lockhart said he believes more awareness has been brought to the male population in the last decade.

Lockhart was also in attendance for the City of Lanett’s pink fountain reveal with Working to Help those In Pink (W.H.I.P. earlier this week.

“I tell people everywhere I go that when it comes to cancer research, tornado victims, hurricane victims, someone’s home burns, these people in this area of West Point, Lanett, Valley, Beulah, I cannot say enough of the heart that they have to give,” Lockhart said. “[They] keep giving. A lot of times, they don’t have the money, but we don’t want someone to feel bad if you can’t give but a dollar. It all adds up.”

The bank will continue to host events throughout the month, including a bake sale, a pumpkin decorating contest, a pie in the face contest for whoever raises the most money and raffles for a cooler. Other local community members may be getting “locked up” in front of the bank throughout the month.

“Sid had the idea of arresting folks,” Warren-Holland said. “We might do that. You never know what you’re going to get.”