(Madera, CA) - In 2002, then-high school sophomore, Peyman Moghaddam received the life-changing news that he had cancer. He was sent to Valley Children’s to begin treatment and over the next few years underwent chemo, radiation, multiple surgeries, stays in the Intensive Care Unit and days of being bedridden at home.
He remembers sitting in disbelief when, years later, he received the report from his doctor that he was in full remission. Now what? He’d never thought of living to be old or strong enough to go to college and suddenly was faced with the need to apply. After overcoming countless obstacles, Peyman enrolled in junior college and then transferred to Fresno State and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business and Marketing. Since then, he has started and grown a successful business and felt it was time to give back. With the help of close friends, he started Survivor Squad, a nonprofit which aims to support young adults who have been impacted by a cancer journey.
On a recent visit to Fresno, Peyman, reconnected with Alistair Robertson, the Pediatric Oncology Social Worker who guided Peyman through his treatment. Alistair is now the social worker for our Cancer Survivorship Program, which gives our survivors the tools and guidance they need to live healthy, full, adult lives. When Peyman learned about the program he knew it was the perfect place to make his first donation.
On Friday, April 26, exactly 17 years to the day after Peyman began his cancer battle, he returned to Valley Children’s Hospital to present the Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program with a $4,000 donation.
“I truly can say I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the level of care I received at Valley Children’s,” explained Peyman. “I couldn’t think of a better place to start this next chapter.”
Dr. John Gates, Valley Children’s Director of the Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program and Alistair Robertson, Valley Children’s Oncology Social Worker accepted the donation.
“All of us at Valley Children’s are grateful for the very kind and generous donation from Peyman,” Alistair said. “Being a childhood cancer survivor himself, to give back to help support other survivors is an amazing gesture.”
“Gifts to our program will allow us to provide essential services to a greater percentage of survivors in the years to come,” said Dr. Gates. “The importance is high and the effort to run the program is great, but our funding is short of the need. Each and every contribution supports the quality and potential success of our children’s futures.”
For more information about Valley Children’s Survivorship Program or Peyman’s Survivor Squad visit:
https://www.valleychildrens.org/cancer-and-blood-diseases/survivorship
www.survivorsquad.org