Cruisin'

With A Purpose

Classic car event benefits
Hermelin Brain Tumor Center.

Staff photos by Angie Baan

I

n the midst of being treated
for a malignant brain tumor,
Julie Cash Levin, 47, of
Farmington Hills found
the time to give back.
Levin and fellow
brain tumor survivor
Stuart Brickner
of West Bloomfield
worked together to plan
"Cruisin' For a Cure
a classic car show,
cocktail and dinner
reception and dancing
to raise money for the
Hermelin Brian Tumor Center
at Henry Ford Hospital. The
center, with locations in Detroit,
Royal Oak, Troy and Dearborn,
was founded in honor of the late
businessman and philanthropist
David Hermelin of Bingham
Farms. The event, held June 20

at Shenandoah Country Club in
West Bloomfield, brought in 150
people and helped raise at least
$15,000 for research.
"If I had gotten this
diagnosis 20 years ago,
I probably wouldn't be
here:' said Levin. "That's
what research has done
for me. I'm here, I can
be an athlete, I can feel
good, even during che-
motherapy treatments."
Around the room, a
number of survivors
took part in the fundraiser
including Jeff Chottiner, 38,
of Farmington Hills. He was
diagnosed with a brain tumor
and had surgery six years
ago. He and his wife, Lisa,
were married while he was
undergoing chemotherapy.

"I was the second person in
the world to have a particular
procedure done at Henry Ford
Hospital and that's part of the
reason I'm here:' Jeff Chottiner
said.
"I think I always believed he
was going to be okay," added
Lisa. "I'm very grateful for the
research and all of the support."
Also attending was Stuart
Brickner, who learned he had
a brain tumor after becoming
disoriented while driving. He
had neurosurgery at Henry Ford
Hospital the very next day
"If it wasn't for Henry Ford
and all of the doctors, I wouldn't
be celebrating my 63rd birthday

today or my 40th wedding anni-
versary, which was yesterday,"
Brickner said. "If it could hap-
pen to me it could happen to
anybody — you just can't take
anything for granted."
"I'm flabbergasted by the
changes that have occurred
in the understanding of
how cancers develop includ-
ing brain tumors," said Dr.
Mark Rosenblum of West
Bloomfield, chairman of neuro-
surgery and co-director of the
Hermelin Brain Tumor Center.
Dr .Rosenblum personally
treated David Hermelin and told
the crowd advances in research
and technology over the last 35
years have made a world of
difference. He said his goal
is to change brain tumors
into chronic diseases that

people can live with and be
treated for on a long-term basis.
"Unfortunately, brain tumors
happen, and they happen to
wonderful people all the time,"
Dr. Rosenblum said. "Through
research there's new hope — it's
breathtaking."
Spotted in the crowd
cruisin' for a cure were: Eric
Banks and Michele and
Scott Rosenblum, all of
Birmingham; Elanah and
Rich Hunger of Sylvan
Lake; Andrea and Jay Levin
of Farmington Hills; Mike
Corarci and Marty Brown
of Franklin; Michelle and Jay
Brown, Dr. Morton and Ruth
Lee Cash, Suzy Brickner,
Andy Markowitz, and Lori
and Jeff Ellis, all of West
Bloomfield. El

Stuart Brickner

Anne and David

and Julie Cash
Levin

Nerenz of
Ann Arbor

Left: Linda Markowitz of

Right: Anne and Don Rupp

Commerce with Robert and

of Bloomfield Township with

Mary Lou Labe of West

Steven and Suzie Friedman of
West Bloomfield

Bloomfield

Hills with

minghath,-
pd Paula La

aren and

rd Nagel of West Bloomfield

iN

(Nicholas of

Birmingham

July 6 • 2006

37

