Cancer survivors, local faith groups and high school fundraisers filled California Lutheran University's Memorial Field on Sept. 19 for the annual Relay For Life of Conejo Valley, a daylong event benefiting the American Cancer Society (ACS).

The event ran from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to the ACS event page. It featured a noncompetitive 5K fun run and opening ceremonies with local civic leaders and cancer survivors, according to a Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce listing. A Patch event listing described carnival games, a luminaria ceremony and live music. Admission was free.

Christy Warner, the event leader and a cancer survivor who lost her mother to the disease, organizes the relay each year. Planning starts almost immediately after each event wraps, she told the Panther Prowler, Newbury Park High School's student newspaper.

"Well, fun fact, the day after this is over, we start planning for next year. Literally," Warner said.

Local clubs, businesses, county officers, firefighters and city officials all supported the event, according to the Panther Prowler. Warner said the organizing team relies on high schools to help spread the word through social media and other outreach. The event also included a silent auction and raffles, Warner told the student newspaper.

Rachel Blum, a brain tumor survivor and volunteer with Temple Adot Elohim, walked in the relay for her 20th year. Blum told the Panther Prowler that several temple members are either survivors or have lost loved ones to cancer, and the group participates to raise funds. The temple's team raised the most donations among participating teams this year, according to the student newspaper. Specific dollar figures were not reported.

At one team booth, Liam Muna, a Newbury Park High School junior and president of Key Club, invited passersby to throw water balloons at him to raise money for cancer research. Muna told the Panther Prowler his team charged $6 for five balloons and $5 for three minutes of water guns.

How long the relay has run depends on who's counting. The Panther Prowler described 41 years of community gatherings at Cal Lutheran, while the Chamber of Commerce promoted the event as the 28th annual Relay For Life of Conejo Valley. The reason for the discrepancy is unclear.

Residents who want to support the ACS can donate year-round through the organization's website.

Upcoming community events:

  • Thousand Oaks Halloween events run through Nov. 1. Details here.