Fundraiser helps cancer fight

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers HONORED FOR LIFE-Relay for Life organizers Grace Goryoka, left, and Alyssa Burns, both Agoura High School juniors, and AHS Principal Larry Meisel are honored by Agoura Hills Mayor Pro Tem Dan Kuperberg for putting on the benefit that raised more than $80,000 for cancer research. One in three Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. This sobering statistic has been the impetus behind the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, a 24-hour walk around the track that was hosted again this year by Agoura High School, among others.

On April 29, 40 teams of about 10 people each participated in the fourth annual walk-a-thon at the Agoura High track. This year the teams raised $80,000 to help in the fight against cancer, doubling the fundraisers' initial goal.

Alyssa Burns and Grace Goryoka, Agoura High juniors and co-chairs of the event, and several adult leaders were honored at last week's Agoura Hills City Council meeting.

Burns said there was plenty of entertainment to keep the event lively and people walking. School bands, the dance team and members of Comedy Sportz entertained throughout the day and night.

Agoura Hills Mayor Pro Tem Dan Kuperberg presented commendations to Burns and Goryoka and other organizers, including Larry Cole, Dena Beaudine and chairperson Ling Wu.

"The students had a spark and an energy I had not seen for quite some time," Kuperberg said.

"I want to thank the community for the support they gave throughout this event," Goryoka said. "It's about being a community that takes up the fight," she said, quoting her favorite line from the American Cancer Society.

Burns said even though she and Goryoka started working on the event somewhat late in the process, once they got going they had many ideas on how to form teams and raise funds. Every team member was expected to raise at least $100.

"It was really an amazing group that was willing to work," Burns said. "It was a ton, a ton of work, but to see how it all came together was worth every single hour we put into it."

Almost everyone knows or loves someone who's battled cancer. Burns said both of her grandmothers are fighting the disease.

"We are a community event," Cole said. "We raise awareness and money for services that we bring back to your community." For the first time, the city of Agoura Hills participated in the event. Council members and city staff formed teams.

Agoura Hills Recreation Manager Donna Conlin and members of the city's department of recreation had a team of their own and raised the fourth highest amount of money at the event.

The money will be used for cancer awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment and patient support.