'Spring for Sarah' to raise funds for cancer fight

FALLBROOK – With a high wattage smile and a hug for anyone within arm’s reach, the only thing giving away the fact that Sarah Girgis has been in a fight for her life is a bright orange headband wrapped around a scalp with stubble-like growth on the top of her head. Her thin frame hints at the nausea from the countless rounds of chemotherapy and, most recently, major surgery around her right eye in an effort to harness the stubborn and extremely rare cancer that refuses to budge from her skull and connective tissue.

In a cruel twist of fate, this one-of-a-kind 21 year old whose high-octane life leaves family and friends gasping for air, has a near one-of-a-kind cancer against which treatment has failed so far.

When she headed off to Cal Lutheran two and one-half years ago, Fallbrook High School graduate Girgis planned to continue her fast-paced life on the Cal Lutheran cross country team. She wanted to throw herself into campus life in much the same way she participated as a FHS Warrior when she was freshman class vice president and class president each year thereafter. She served on the high school technology board for the district, ran cross country, and started an after school tutoring program at St. Peter’s Catholic School.

Battling a rare cancer, pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma, in which only 100 cases have been reported worldwide, was not in Girgis’ life plan.

While her junior year at Cal Lutheran has been temporarily placed on hold, Girgis navigates this bend in the road with the same grace and determination as she would a cross-country course.

Her tight-knit family, parents Michael and Arlene Ponce and siblings Katherine, Michael Jr., and Liam, as well as her community of friends in Fallbrook and at Cal Lutheran bolster her courage. Her faith sustains her.

Soon, the entire Fallbrook community will have the opportunity to show Girgis its support. An event aptly named “Spring For Sarah” will be held on Saturday, June 3, at Pala Mesa Resort from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. in order to offset the medical expenses Girgis’ family has incurred as she continues to seek treatment at MD Anderson in Houston since her cancer is so rare.

Spring For Sarah will be a bright, fun community event! Each $50 ticket will include Jazz, music from the local ‘Old School Band,’ delicious hot hors d’oeuvres throughout the evening, photo booth, large silent auction with multiple vacation homes and resorts, local artisan pieces, hair and make-up services, and a raffle.

Girgis will also be there to speak about her experiences and to thank everyone who has shown support for her and her family. The beauty of the venue in combination with the entertainment for the evening will make this a must attend event!

To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.saveoursarah.com.

To learn more, contact Sarah Girgis and Arlene Ponce at (760) 586-8336.