Like many teens, Carly Farah works part-time, hangs out with friends and attends College of the Canyons. But there is nothing typical about 18-year-old Farah,whose global adventures and personal loss inspired her to start a local club that benefits cancer patients and their families.

Farah, a Stevenson Ranch resident and 2009 graduate of West Ranch High School, received the Principal’s Achievement Award and a full scholarship to COC for her extensive volunteer work and services, such as establishing the Wildcats Against Cancer club in fall of 2008. She started the club about a year after her father, Joe Farah, died of leukemia. Carly, her mother, Stephanie, and sister, Nikki, participated in a Relay for Life rally, which prompted the teenager to start a campus team.

“I was really inspired by what the American Cancer Society does and by all of the teams working together toward the same goal. I decided that I wanted to do that and that school would be a good place to start. I had to do something that would honor my dad and help others in the same situation,” says Carly.

Wildcats Against Cancer club members formed a Relay for Life team, met weekly and organized fundraisers throughout the year, ultimately raising about $5,000. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. The team was awarded first place in Fundraising for Youth Teams by the Relay for Life committee, an arm of the American Cancer Society. The club will continue at West Ranch, says Carly, who plans to launch another Relay for Life team at COC this year.

Carly’s volunteerism began while her father was ill and in need of a marrow transplant. She and her family became involved with Be The Match (www.BeTheMatch.org), a national registry that connects patients in need of a life-saving transplant with donors. Carly, her mother and sister mobilized the local community to educate and register new donors in hopes of finding a match for her father. Although a match was found, Joe Farah didn’t survive long enough to undergo the transplant.

“Even after the grief of losing her father, Carly continued to stay involved with Be The Match,” says Emily Dalton, assistant coordinator of Be The Match in the City of Hope. “Our chapter formalized its volunteer program last summer. Carly was one of the first three volunteers to join our program. Over the last year, Carly has worked with me on community outreach and education on college campuses.”

In addition, Carly has volunteered at community marrow registration drives, educating and registering new marrow donors. “Carly shows such confidence, knowledge and heart when volunteering. We are so lucky to have her,” says Dalton.

When a friend of Carly’s relapsed with lymphoma last year, she donated blood and platelets for him and provided support for his family. “Because of her experience with her dad’s illness, she totally understood what he was going through and what he was up against,” says Stephanie Farah, adding that the boy is now in remission.

Carly’s mother believes that the five years the family lived in Saudi Arabia helped prepare her daughter for her role as a community activist. The family moved to Saudi Arabia in 2001 when Joe Farah’s employer, Parsons Corporation, relocated him to a small city it built called Yanbu, located on the Western side of Saudi by the Red Sea, across from Egypt.

“During that time, we were able to travel and experience amazing places and experience history in a way most will never know. Our kids were also exposed to things that are not glamorous, such as poverty and suffering,” says Stephanie.

The girls attended a small American school and participated in sports and clubs. Since Saudi is a conservative society, the family wore black robes in public. They made good use of their time there, traveling extensively throughout the country as well as to Lebanon, Egypt, England, France, Italy, Spain and Singapore.

“It was important for us to show them the world as it is and not as they are shown on TV and the news. That was a valuable gift we gave them, as both of our daughters grew up not being afraid of the world. I truly believe that is why they are both so well grounded today,” says Stephanie.

Carly Farah says many people are shocked to learn she lived in Saudi Arabia for five years. “But it was really great. It was an interesting experience. The biggest thing I learned is not to judge people without knowing them. Because you don’t know what lifestyles they have. Traveling around the world opened my eyes to different lifestyles,” says Carly.

The next step is starting a Relay for Life team at COC. “I plan to spend two years there and then transfer. I’m not really sure what I want to do exactly but I do know that whatever it is, I will be helping people in some way,” she says.

If you have news about the West Ranch/Stevenson Ranch area, or have ideas for Mimi, email her at WriteMimi@aol.com