Moorpark Relay for Life Brings Hope to Cancer Survivors

It was a warm spring morning as cancer survivors and supporters gathered on Saturday for the annual Relay for Life at .

The Relay draws teams of people who camp out for 24 hours to raise funds for cancer research, to support friends and family who have gone through treatment and to remember loved ones lost.

The annual event also helps fund the American Cancer Society’s patient services, lifesaving research, advocacy and education programs.

According to ACS staff member Daniela Barragan, there are more than 500 Relays for Life across the state and 5,000 across the country.

“This is a volunteer-driven event,” said Barragan, “to celebrate cancer survivors, remember those we lost, and to fight back against the disease.”

The story hits home many times for those gathered at this field. Helene Juceam and Laura Mutz-Walmark are longtime friends who have both beaten breast cancer. Now Laura is in treatment for leukemia.

“It’s about supporting an event that raises money,” said Juceam, “and to help with funding and supporting research to find a cure.”

The reality of the struggle with cancer hit home for Mutz-Walmark during her most recent treatments.

“When I went through my leukemia treatment, I was listening to people there in the hospital,” she said. “There are people suffering from nausea who can’t get their anti-nausea medication because their insurance doesn’t cover it."

"Sometimes I’ve given mine up because my insurance does. It makes it very hard. They make it so expensive and hard to get. That motivates me to help with fundraising,” Mutz-Walmark added.

Together, Juceam and Mutz-Walmark formed The Pink Ladies team with a goal of raising $10,000 to help with that fundraising.

In support of their efforts, Laura’s brother, Frank Mutz, who coaches the baseball team at Chaminade High School in West Hills, worked with his ballplayers to help raise $2,700.

For Moorpark Rotarian and cancer survivor Dale Parvin, the struggle with cancer has been difficult. Parvin has undergone numerous treatments over the last 35 years.

As a result, he and his fellow Rotarians started the Moorpark Relay in 2000 as a way of bringing together fellow cancer patients and survivors.

“I didn’t realize how many survivors there were in the community,” said Parvin.

Those survivors often meet randomly and form friendships that carry on well past their treatments. Such is the case with Breanna Pflaumer and Spencer Shiffman.

Pflaumer, 21, was diagnosed with cancer at age 14 and treated at UCLA. Shiffman is a three-time survivor. He and Pflaumer meet annually at the Moorpark Relay to support each other.

During the opening two-lap survivor walk, Shiffman pushes Pflaumer in her wheelchair around the track.

Shiffman, who’s been cancer-free for six years, feels fortunate to be here to support her.

“I ran a golf tournament to keep myself alive,” he said. “I was in hospice care in 1998.”

Ever since his rebound from the disease, he’s been working hard to help raise funds for cancer research. It was during one of his events that he met Pflaumer.

“In 2007, I heard about Breanna through some friends,” said Shiffman. “I used to honor pediatric cancer survivors. I got in touch with her dad, Tom, and mother, Terrie, and I told them that I sponsored a tournament for pediatric cancer research and that I wanted to honor her."

Shiffman added, "We did a video which we presented at the dinner and we proceeded to raise more than $200,000. Ever since then, she and I have been coming here every year.”

Pflaumer has strong support from her family and friends. She loves sports and roots for the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers. She also maintains her passion for golf.

“I used to play on the Moorpark High School golf team,” she said.

Returning to the Relay reminds Pflaumer that it’s good to be alive and carry on with hope.

“Every year, it’s another step in the right direction,” she said, “one step closer to life without cancer.”