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38 June 30 • 2016 meridiansenior.com It may be beautiful on the outside but it's what's on the inside that counts. 4460 Orchard Lake Road >LZ[)SVVTÄLSK40 Call us today at (248) 683-1010 Giving Back Ovarian cancer survivor of 35 years dedicates her life to helping others. David Sachs | Senior Copy Editor B renda Beron is a cancer coun- selor who knows what she's talking about. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1981 and is now in her 35th year as a survivor. "Because I was a psychotherapist and a cancer survivor, my gynecological oncolo- gist told me I was in a unique position, and he asked if he could refer appropriate patients," Beron said. "That's how it started, and my passion to reach out to others and make a differ- ence in their lives, especially in the cancer community, grew from there." Beron, 78, has been very busy these three-and-a-half decades, including volunteering the past 18 years at Gilda's Club in Royal Oak — the longest-serving facilitator they've had. On April 16, she was honored for her efforts at a gala fundraising dinner of the Belinda Sue Fund for Ovarian Cancer Awareness & Research. The fund was founded by Thomas Nantais, whose wife, Belinda Sue, died of ovarian cancer in 2011 at age 52. Nantais is chief operating officer of the Henry Ford Medical Group. A goal of the fund is to support research for an ovarian cancer screening tool. "A blood test for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer could save so many women from this terrible disease," Beron said. As for the honor, she said, "It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me — I cried." She told the attendees at the dinner, "I need to share this honor with all the wonderful, courageous and inspirational women who were and are in the ovarian cancer support group at Gilda's Club. Over the years, they have developed a unique group. No matter what their individual challenges, they reach out to one another in caring and love. And I am personally grateful to have been allowed to walk even one step with each one of them. "Belinda Sue or 'Bindy,' as we knew her, was a part of the group," Beron said. "She is sadly missed but never forgotten, as testimony to the wonderful organization that carries her name." Beron, who retired as a Gilda's Club facili- tator at the end of last year, received volun- teer honors from the organization at events on March 11 and June 1. Her other work in the cancer community has included co-facil- itating with Simona Seiderman an "I Can Cope Group" and co- facilitating with Pat Sachs "N'siah," a spiri- tual support group for can- cer patients held at syna- gogues. She is active in the Cancer Thrivers Network for Jewish Women at Jewish Family Service. She also worked at the Karmanos Cancer Institute where she developed a peer support program for women with breast cancer who were in clinical trials. She also coordinated a community-wide event called "Celebration of Life," which drew as many as 300 participants. Beron continues to work three days a week as a marriage and family thera- pist at Counseling Associates in West Bloomfield. She is the mother of two: Shelli Lempert, a dental hygienist of Walled Lake, and Dr. Philip Beron, a radi- ation oncologist of Los Angeles. She has three granddaughters: one who is prepar- ing to be a physician's assistant, one who is preparing to be a teacher and one who is preparing to enter kindergarten. NOT A 'LONE JOURNEY' "I did not make this journey alone," Beron said. "Numerous people have supported me along the way. They have been there and available through good times as well as the challenges. Beron is very supportive of the mis- sion of the Belinda Sue Fund. "It is so important to find that elusive early diag- nostic test for ovarian cancer," she said. "With all the advances in medicine they've made, they still don't have any kind of test for early diagnosis of ovar- ian cancer," she said. "We are all hopeful that day is com- ing — and soon." * health & wellness » Brenda Beron giving a heartfelt acceptance for her honor from the Belinda Sue Fund for Ovarian Cancer Awareness & Research Courtesy Belinda Sue Fund