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Giving Back

Ovarian cancer survivor of 35 years
dedicates her life to helping others.

her, was a part of the group,” Beron
said. “She is sadly missed but never
renda Beron is a cancer coun-
forgotten, as testimony to the wonderful
selor who knows what she’s
organization that carries her name.”
talking about.
Beron, who retired
She was diagnosed
as a Gilda’s Club facili-
with ovarian cancer in
tator at the end of last
1981 and is now in her
year, received volun-
35th year as a survivor.
teer honors from the
“Because I was a
organization at events
psychotherapist and
on March 11 and June 1.
a cancer survivor, my
Her other work in
gynecological oncolo-
the cancer community
gist told me I was in a
has included co-facil-
unique position, and he
itating with Simona
asked if he could refer
Seiderman an “I Can
appropriate patients,”
Cope Group” and co-
Beron said.
facilitating with Pat
Brenda Beron giving
“That’s how it started,
Sachs “N’siah,” a spiri-
a heartfelt acceptance
and my passion to reach out for her honor from
tual support group for can-
to others and make a differ- the Belinda Sue Fund
cer patients held at syna-
ence in their lives, especially for Ovarian Cancer
gogues. She is active in the
in the cancer community,
Cancer Thrivers Network
Awareness & Research
grew from there.”
for Jewish Women at
Beron, 78, has been very
Jewish Family Service.
busy these three-and-a-half decades,
She also worked at the Karmanos
including volunteering the past 18 years Cancer Institute where she developed a
at Gilda’s Club in Royal Oak — the
peer support program for women with
longest-serving facilitator they’ve had.
breast cancer who were in clinical trials.
On April 16, she was honored for
She also coordinated a community-wide
her efforts at a gala fundraising dinner
event called “Celebration of Life,” which
of the Belinda Sue Fund for Ovarian
drew as many as 300 participants.
Cancer Awareness & Research. The
Beron continues to work three days
fund was founded by Thomas Nantais,
a week as a marriage and family thera-
whose wife, Belinda Sue, died of ovarian pist at Counseling Associates in West
cancer in 2011 at age 52. Nantais is chief Bloomfield. She is the mother of two:
operating officer of the Henry Ford
Shelli Lempert, a dental hygienist of
Medical Group. A goal of the fund is to Walled Lake, and Dr. Philip Beron, a radi-
support research for an ovarian cancer ation oncologist of Los Angeles. She has
screening tool.
three granddaughters: one who is prepar-
“A blood test for early diagnosis of
ing to be a physician’s assistant, one who
ovarian cancer could save so many
is preparing to be a teacher and one who
women from this terrible disease,”
is preparing to enter kindergarten.
Beron said.
NOT A ’LONE JOURNEY’
As for the honor, she said, “It was a
once-in-a-lifetime experience for me — “I did not make this journey alone,”
Beron said. “Numerous people have
I cried.”
supported me along the way. They
She told the attendees at the dinner,
have been there and available through
“I need to share this honor with all the
wonderful, courageous and inspirational good times as well as the challenges.
Beron is very supportive of the mis-
women who were and are in the ovarian
sion of the Belinda Sue Fund. “It is so
cancer support group at Gilda’s Club.
important to find that elusive early diag-
Over the years, they have developed
nostic test for ovarian cancer,” she said.
a unique group. No matter what their
“With all the advances in medicine
individual challenges, they reach out
they’ve made, they still don’t have any
to one another in caring and love. And
kind of test for early diagnosis of ovar-
I am personally grateful to have been
allowed to walk even one step with each ian cancer,” she said.
“We are all hopeful that day is com-
one of them.
ing — and soon.”
“Belinda Sue or ‘Bindy,’ as we knew

B

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Courtesy Belinda Sue Fund

David Sachs | Senior Copy Editor

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38 June 30 • 2016

