Beating the Evil Cancer Demon Earns Families a Night on the Catwalk and Standing Ovations

The ballroom of the Royal Sonesta Hotel reverberated with cheers and applause and heaved with tears as a gallant parade of cancer survivors strode a red carpet that wound its way through the gathering of 360 guests, all on their feet in admiration of the evening’s heroes. This inaugural event of A Shelter for Cancer Families, née the Amschwand Sarcoma Cancer Foundation, took a different turn from previous Catwalk fundraisers focusing this year on survivors rather than fashion.

“We’ve gone through a transition as an organization,” founder Missy Bellinger told PaperCity, “from Sarcoma Cancer Foundation to A Shelter for Cancer Families.” The focus, a decision by the foundation board, shifts from the well-funded arena of cancer research to providing much-needed housing assistance for cancer patients and their families.

This is not to say that the evening lacked a glam factor. Tenenbaum Jewelers, led by every lady’s best friends Tony Bradfield and Kevin Black, provided to-die-for raffle pieces and invited those walking the catwalk and Catwalk leadership to visit their River Oaks area store and pick out jewelry for the evening. And, oh, how the ladies dazzled! As Bellinger referred to the Tenenbaum largesse, it provided a “Cinderella moment” for all.

The evening was chaired by Monica and Curtis Bickers, Ashley and Louis Pearce and Maggie and Rob Vermillion, those ladies each sporting Tenenbaum bling along with Bellinger and co-emcee Alexandra Knight.

Survivor honorees for the night were members of the Billeck family — Lisa, Brian, Brandon, Stephen, Dara and survivor Damon. Honored with the Commitment to Care Award was Dr. Winston Huh.

Survivors on the catwalk: the Billecks, Shelby and Bryan Boone, Jana and Tommy Bounds, Amanda Conti and Steve Haver, Kristin Elliott with daughter Grace, Joyce and Dr. Stephen Fadem, Alexandra and Brady Knight with sons Thomson and Truett, Margaret Ling, Kelly and Denis Maxson with son Gus, Lauri and Jeff Mauldin, Erica and Ryan Nowell, Marlee Pack and her father Bill, Dr. Laurel Scott with children Rachel and Nathan, Millette and Haag Sherman, Marcia and David Solomon and Jo Veigel. 

Ambassadors: Lindley and Jason Arnoldy, Francine and Westy Ballard, Stinelli Castañeda, Christine and Ty hoffer, Lisa and Josh Oren, Amy and Tom Palmisano and Shelby Hodge and Shafik Rifaat.