To Life!

AROUND TOWN

Guitars!

hey were all
the age of 17, is one of
unplugged, but
them. 'Any bit for me
dozens of auto-
helped," Stewart said.
graphed guitars generat-
"So I can imagine it
ed plenty of electricity
would be encouraging
inside the Shriners
for other kids who are
Auditorium and
survivors."
Conference Center, the
The scholarship pro-
former Congregation
gram, designed to help
B'nai David in
families financially
ROBIN
Southfield. More than
and honor outstanding
SCHWARTZ
500 people gathered to
student
achievements,
Special to the
admire and bid on the
is
headed
by Dr.
Jewish News
instruments signed by
Charles Main, chief of
famous rock stars like
hematology/oncology
Sting, Neil Diamond and Melissa
at Beaumont He says improve-
Etheridge.
ments in supportive care and
The event, called "Stars' Guitars," chemotherapy are helping
helped raise money for the
increase the survival rate for many
Pediatric Cancer Survivor
young cancer patients.
Scholarship Program at William
"I started taking care of chil-
Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.
dren with leukemia in 1964 and
"They're amazing," said A.j.
the cure rate at that time was
Dembs, 16, of Huntington Woods
about 2 percent',' said Dr. Main.
who was in pure six-string heaven. "Now, if a new child comes in with
"There's no other collection of
leukemia, they've got about an 85
guitars like this in the country,"
percent chance of surviving it."
said Richard Astrein of
Spotted among the stars' guitars
Huntington Woods, one of the
at the Sept. 24 event were: Steven
organizers.
Tapper of Bloomfield Hills and
"Last year, we had a Bob Dylan
Jan and Gary Dembs, Betty
and that went for like $8,000 in a
Baker, Sharon and Mark Berke,
bidding war," he said.
and Ron Sollish, all of
This year, 28 cancer survivors
Huntington Woods.
who were treated at Beaumont will
In addition to the auction and a
receive $2,000 scholarships for col- strolling buffet, partygoers were
lege. Over the last 15 years, 75
treated to a live performance by
local students have benefited from the cast of Beatlemanial Dr. Main
the Pediatric Cancer Survivor
was presented with the Marshall
Scholarship Program. A private
Fredericks Freedom of Human
company selects the recipients.
Spirit Award for his caring and
Jason Stewart of Livonia, who
compassionate work. ❑
was treated for osteosarcoma at

T

One of the auction

items — a guitar

signed by Huey Lewis

Molly Baker and Jessica Downey

of Huntington Woods

A.J., Jan and Gary Dembs of Huntington Woods

Event organizers Debbie and Richard Astrein of Huntington Woods with Steven

24

Tapper of West Bloomfield and Ron Sollish of Huntington Woods

October 6 2005

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