‘Hope Rocks’ for Cancer Patients

Palisadian Evan Vourakis and Zachary Wiezorek Inspire Through Painting

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

A little ingenuity can make a huge difference.

There is no better example of this than Palisadian Evan Vourakis and his friend Zachary Wiezorek from Malibu. The two 11-year-olds teamed up to paint rocks for cancer patients finishing their radiation therapy at Adventist Health Glendale Cancer Center.

Prior to COVID-19, a group of cancer survivors decorated rocks that were given with a certificate of completion at the conclusion of a patient’s radiation therapy treatment. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, these cancer survivors were not able to meet at the cancer center to paint rocks together.

So Vourakis and Wiezorek took it upon themselves to fill the void by painting rocks, with the help of their siblings, to inspire hope in cancer patients. They even formed a group called “Hope Rocks” to encourage other kids to join the cause.

Vourakis, a lifelong Palisadian, came up with the name.

“Zac and I play water polo together at LA Premier Water Polo Club,” said Vourakis, a sixth-grader at St. Martin of Tours School in Brentwood. “Zac’s mom is a radiology oncologist, so we give the rocks to her, and she takes them to her hospital and gives them to patients.”

The two boys were recently awarded KNX Radio’s “Hero of the Week Award.” They also have a Facebook page called “Hope Rocks for Cancer Patients” that generates numerous rock donations.

Vourakis lives off of El Medio with his parents, Christina and Michael, and his sisters Sophia, 14, and Elina, 7.

“They help me paint the rocks,” Evan said. “Our family has done maybe 100 so far. We would like to continue it and expand it.”

Wiezorek is a sixth-grader at Malibu Middle School.

Vourakis, who shared that he wants to be an engineer when he grows up, likes living by the beach. He is a member of Boy Scout Troop 223 at St. Matthew’s Parish School and sometimes swims for Westside Aquatics at the Palisades Charter High School pool. He started playing water polo at the age of 6 and used to play for Blue Chip Basketball Academy.