Metro

AROUND TOWN

Making Wishes Come True

Fashion show fundraiser supports children battling life-threatening illnesses.

Event co-chairs

Elaine Surnow of

Leora Go !Olen of
Bloomfield Hills and Marla

West Bloomfield

Tapper-Young of West

Brandvain of

and Beth

Bloomfield

S

pring was in full bloom on the
runway at the Townsend Hotel in
Birmingham during a fashion show
by Neiman Marcus to benefit Team Alex and
the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan.
Nearly 200 people attended the upbeat event,
which also included boutique
shopping, lunch, a raffle and
prizes. Make-A-Wish grants
the wishes of children with life-
threatening medical conditions.
"Ifs just such a warm feeling
to know that we're helping fami-
lies',' said artist Elaine Surnow
of West Bloomfield, one of the
event co-chairs."I'm not a doc-
tor. I can't perform miracles in
the medical field; but I can try
to create a fun way for people to
reach out and help:'
The event was inspired by the
memory of Alex Graham, an energetic West
Bloomfield teenager who was diagnosed with
bone cancer at the age of 16. She died when
she was just 17 on Jan. 25, 1999.
When offered the chance to select her wish
through the Maklpsh Foundation, Alex
chose to create a pu c-service announce-
ment telling people not to treat children dif-
ferently because they have cancer. Her brave
battle also was the inspiration behind Team
Alex, a local cycling group formed in 1999 to
participate in a three-day, 300-mile fundrais-
ing bike tour to benefit the Make-A-Wish
Foundation of Michigan. This past year, more
than 60 riders were part of the team.

armington Hills

"To some people, the idea of raising
money to send a sick child to Disneyland or
to build them a playhouse in the back yard
may seem trivial," said Beth Brandvain of
Farmington Hills, Team Alex captain and the
other fashion show co-chair."But to a child
suffering with a life-threatening
illness and his or her family, it's a
life-changing opportunity. I've met
many families who've told me that
looking forward to the wish gave
their children hope, strength and
joy. For others, it is their fondest
memory of time spent together:'
Over the last 11 years, Team
Alex has raised more than $1 mil-
lion, enough money to grant more
than 130 wishes. It is among the
biggest teams and top fundrais-
ers in the tour's 22-year history.
Registration is underway for this
year's ride July 22-25.
"I am incredibly proud of the wonderful
work our team members have put forth','
Brandvain said."This is our small attempt
at making the world a better place by mak-
ing wishes come true for these very special
children." LI

For more information about Team
Alex or to register for this year's
ride, go to teamalexrides.org . For
more information about the Make-A-
Wish Foundation, go to www.wish.org .

Renee Acho of Birmingham examines

a bracelet shown by Karen Egren of

Bloomfield Hills.

Ellen Binke of Orchard Lake, Michelle

Weiss of West Bloomfield and Gretchen

Viergever of Bloomfield Hills

Model Haeley Buchinger wears

Milly Theory apparel.

April 22 P010

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