Community backs Wellness fundraiser
By John Loesing newstip@theacorn.com

Children whose parents have cancer face a tough road in life. Theirs is not a celebration of life, but a struggle just to cope.

Emily Fischer, 10, and her brother Danny, 12, of Westlake Village found out last year that their father had cancer. A program at the Wellness Community Valley/Ventura called Kids Circle helped the children learn about the disease and taught them how to understand their feelings.

At last Friday's Celebration of Life 16th Anniversary Gala at the Four Season Hotel in Westlake Village more than 350 members of the community came out to support the Kids Circle and the many other cancer coping and recovery programs that Wellness has to offer.

Officials said $46,000 was raised for the kids' group.

Using art, discussion groups and other activities, Wellness officials are able to connect with the children and help them navigate through their troubled time.

"These children connect with one another, and they don't feel so alone," said the Wellness Community's Peggy Johnston.

The program helps about 260 children each year, Johnston said.

The Celebration of Life Gala featured both a live and silent auction.

KCAL 9 television anchor Rick Chambers served as the event's master of ceremonies.

His mother died of cancer 18 months ago.

"Anybody who has cancer knows it changes not only their lives, but the lives of everyone around them," Chambers said.

Former pop star Sheena Easton was a celebrity guest.

During the evening the Wellness Community also handed out its annual community awards.

The Celebration of Hope award went to Maggie Mellor, a 10-year breast cancer survivor who volunteers as a yoga instructor for the Wellness Community.

Dr. Roy Baynes of Amgen received the Celebration of Excellence award. Baynes is one of America's top oncology physicians and a longtime leader in the field of cancer research.

The Celebration of Philanthropy award went to Rick Harwood, Ruric Nye and Tony Morelli, three contractors who donated $250,000 worth of labor and materials to repair the Wellness Community's aging parking lot in Thousand Oaks.

The eight women who sit on the Wellness Community's Holiday Homes Tour Founding Committee were given the Celebration of Life Award. They are Nancy Mclsaac, Jean FitzPatrick, Joyce Cripe, Patricia Van Evera, Diana Malmquist, Judie Williams, Pat Croner and Bobbie Anderson.

The Holiday Homes Tour brings in approximately $100,000 each year.

Since opening its doors in 1991, Wellness Community has helped more than 11,000 cancer patients and their families.