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Velvet S. McNeil / The Detroit News
Kentaro Roy, 17, is with the band Avienne,
which grabbed 8,444 votes to win the fourth
annual Detroit News Battle of the Bands. The
group splits $5,000 and a host of other prizes.
Battle of the
Bands goes
to Avienne
By Melody Baetens
The Detroit News
fter weeks of competition and thou-
A sands of online votes, South Lyon-
based pop/rock group Avienne
emerged as the winner of the fourth annual
Detroit News Battle of the Bands.
The group, which took first place by more
than 800 votes, has seven members, most of
whom attend South Lyon High School.
Avienne garnered 8,444 votes throughout the
five-week contest.
The other top vote-getters were hard-punk
group Seven Story Fall with 7,602 votes;
pop/punk trio Stolen Liberty with 6,504
votes; and thrash/metal band Sworn Rival
with 2,440 votes.
“(Avienne) had a great network of people
voting for them,” says Steve Tooman, father of
Avienne lead singer Mike Tooman. “They
would hand out flyers at local events. Four of
them were in ‘Annie’ at the end of last month,
and they passed out flyers there.” The proud
dad said two local papers also wrote articles
about Avienne’s participation in the battle.
“I’m stoked,” says Avienne guitarist and Photos by Steve Perez / The Detroit News
main songwriter Matt Justice, 18, a student at Spiritual directors Paula Dow, left, and Mary McKeon pray over cancer patient Mark Roby at Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Bloomfield Hills.
the University of Michigan. “I’m excited for
Please see Battle, Page 3E
More online
Go to detnews.com/
battleofthebands
Mission:
Survival
See video coverage of Avienne’s day on
the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus.
NEAL
RUBIN Man’s strength to battle cancer Roby speaks with Jackie Janssen, a breast-cancer
flows from attitude, helping others survivor who sought Roby’s advice after tests
showed a possible return of the disease.
By Kimberly Hayes Taylor | The Detroit News
The fight against he late afternoon sunlight dims a small chap- Anyone around Roby longer than a few minutes Roby’s 7 keys
hunger starts T el at the Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, and
lies back, closes his eyes and deeply breathes out
will hear him testify to just how blessed he is. After
Mark Roby relaxes in an armchair. Weary, he all, he is supposed to be dead by now. At least that’s
what the oncologists at Metro Detroit’s best hospi-
to survival
Set your intention to survive: Decide
at your mailbox troubles of the world.
Almost all day, every day, Roby helps others.
tals told him. He went searching for hope, but time
and again left with the same bad news:
you will do anything to survive.
Get multiple opinions: Get more than
one or two second opinions — it’s imper-
Dispensing hope has become his life’s I’m sorry. There is no cure or treatment
he can in Augie Fernandes’ hand looked
T to me like Kroger-brand mixed vegeta-
bles, but as he explained Tuesday morn-
ing, it was more than that.
mission.
But on this gloomy, cold early
spring day, it is Roby who needs “God is
that will work for you. Unfortunately
for you, you will be gone soon.
Yet today, Roby says his tumors
ative because there is so much informa-
tion specialists may not know about.
Roby says he had 12.
Start an alkaline/anti-cancer diet:
He was at a podium on a low stage in the
help. He requests that the two
women who flank him like
allowing me are shrinking and his cancer is in
partial remission. Start eating mostly fruits and vegetables;
warehouse of Gleaners Community Food avoid processed foods, alcohol, sugar
Bank in Detroit, and he was preaching to the
centurions on this serene to live so I can That is why Roby has a mess-
and starches.
campus in Bloomfield Hills age of hope. It is why the physi-
choir about the 16th annual Stamp Out Hun-
ger food drive. The
pray with him for peace. The hold a space cian’s assistant, cancer coach and Stop inflammation: Roby says sugar,
processed foods and starches cause the
Birmingham man, who has naturopathic doctor carries his
choir was meta-
vigorously waged war for the for other people message to others. To survive
cells in the body to become inflamed,
phorical, though the leading to cancer and other diseases.
marching band from
past six years with one of the
world’s rarest forms of liver
whose backs are cancer — or any disease for that
matter — he is assured you have to
Avoid this by eating a vegetable-based
Taylor Truman High diet. He suggests using the alkaline/anti-
School was real.
cancer — epithelioid heman- against the wall.” pray and change the way you think, cancer diet, and using natural supple-
gioendothelioma — needs live, eat and drink. ments.
Several hundred MARK ROBY
strength to keep fighting. “Rather than worry about what’s Stop angiogenesis (new blood
people, not counting
He needs inner peace; he needs going to happen tomorrow, or if he will vessel growth): Add natural supple-
the band members
to live. live another month or six months, (Roby) ments such as resveratrol, bindweed,
in their blue T-
“Thank you. Thank you, Father. Thank began helping other people who have difficulty. green tea and vitamin D.
shirts, had packed
you, Jesus,” Roby says softly as Mary McKeon, who He didn’t make his doctors God, if you will, who Ask for God’s guidance: Pray daily
the warehouse for
works on the retreat center’s ministerial staff, can predict death,” says Dr. Jerry Jampolsky, a and imagine your body well.
the kickoff of the
prays a long prayer while colleague Paula Dow psychiatrist who founded the International Center Build a support network: Surround
National Association
silently mouths affirmations. “I can feel the spirit yourself with positive people.
of Letter Carriers’ (NALC) mammoth effort to
move through my body. I am so blessed.” Please see Roby, Page 3E
collect food for people who might otherwise
not have any. There were postal workers,
managers, truckers and even a friendly guy
from Ben & Jerry’s scooping free ice cream. MORE ON ROBY’S ROUTINE MORE ONLINE
Fernandes retired last month as Gleaners’ Go to detnews.com/healthfitnessblog ➤ Watch a video of Mark Roby
president but remains personally offended Read a more detailed description of Mark Roby’s self-developed talking about beating cancer at
nutritional regimen at Kimberly Hayes Taylor’s blog. detnews.com/health.
Please see Rubin, Page 3E
Contact us: Felecia Henderson, Assistant Managing Editor / Features Phone: (313) 222-2557 Fax: (313) 222-2451 E-mail: fhenderson@detnews.com Mail: 615 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit, MI 48226
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 | The Detroit News 3E
for their song “Beautiful Broken
The prizes
Battle People” on Tuesday morning,
and then later in the day shot a $5,000 from The Detroit News
Continued from Page 1E music video for the song. $1,000 music instrument package from Axis Music Academy
“I’m in awe of the bus,” says 10 hours of private lessons at any Axis Music Academy
the publicity and stuff, but really singer and keyboardist Tooman, Eight hours of recording time at the Audio Café
also for the momentum it’s 17. “I expected the guys to treat
Performance spot on the main stage at Comerica Cityfest
brought us.” us like some high school band
On Tuesday, band members that won a competition, but they Performance spot on The Detroit News stage at Arts, Beats
& Eats
received part of their prize pack- really treated us like equals.”
age when they spent an entire Besides a day on the John Photo shoot at The Detroit News
day recording music and video Lennon Educational Tour Bus, Free entry into the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, with a
on the John Lennon Educational the members of Avienne also chance to play the Warped Tour in Detroit
Tour Bus, an event sponsor. won a handful of other prizes, Professional recording session on the John Lennon Educa-
The large tour bus, which was including $5,000 from The De- tional Tour Bus
parked at Huber and Breese troit News. Apple iPod Shuffle for each member
Music in Fraser, houses a full “It’s going to be band money,” Crate Profiler Model 5
recording studio, complete with says singer Lauren Miloch, 17. Ampeg BA-112 bass combo
state-of-the-art equipment, “We’re probably going to get Boss TU-80 tuner
flat-screen televisions, hard- some cordless microphones and
Godlin guitar
wood floors and plush red use it to pay for our next record-
Velvet S. McNeil / The Detroit News couches. Three engineers and ing.” 1,000 custom CDs and 3-color on-disc printing from Disc
producers worked with the kids Makers
Avienne, from left to right: Chelsea Sigler, 17, Mike Tooman, 17, Tyler Mattiello,
to get their song and video re- You can reach Melody Baetens at Pro account on PureVolume.com
17, Justin Smith, 18, Kentaro Roy, 17 (on the ground), Matt Justice, 18, and
Lauren Miloch, 16. “I’m excited for the publicity and stuff, but really also for the corded. (313) 222-2402 or mbaetens Reason software by Propellerhead
momentum it’s brought us,” says Justice. The band laid down tracks @detnews.com. Maxell prize package
“No matter what news I get
Rubin Roby Friday, I’m going to deal with it,”
she says. “I know I need to
Continued from Page 1E change my diet. I’m going to do
Continued from Page 1E
by the notion of people going what it takes to live.”
hungry. He had grabbed the for Attitudinal Healing based in
can from a box near the stage, Sausalito, Calif., which has a Living in the solution
and he was holding it aloft like location in Metro Detroit. No matter how tired Roby
the Statue of Liberty’s torch. Medical history dictates that gets, he says he will look for the
“For many,” he said, “this is this is not supposed to happen. sickest people he can find. Work-
hope. This is someone saying, The disease claims most of its ing with them, he says, gives him
‘I care about you.’ ” victims within the first year after strength and makes him feel
That was great to hear, diagnosis. Even with a liver better.
because when the can was just transplant, 25 percent of patients “My job here on this earth is to
mixed vegetables, I didn’t like die within a year, and about 85 help people,” he says. “That’s why
it very much. percent of patients don’t survive I’m here.”
I do, however, love the food beyond three to five years be- While studying “A Course in
drive. cause the sarcoma is so aggres- Miracles,” he discovered some-
The second Saturday each sive, cancerous tumors soon thing besides forgiveness. He
May, letter carriers from Ban- develop in the transplanted discovered love in the form of a
gor, Maine (04401), to Key organ. pretty redhead named Kathleen
West, Fla. (33040), to Belling- Only 125 people in the world McComsey, a Detroit elementary
ham, Wash. (98225), ask their have been diagnosed with the school teacher who lives in Royal
customers to leave bags of rare disease, but Roby decided to Oak and hosted the “Miracles”
non-perishable food by the stop wondering, “Why me?” class. He says she gives him hope,
mailbox. Instead, he reached for what encouragement and love.
That’s all there is to it. On would later become his first key “Kathleen is my partner, my
Saturday morning — or maybe to survival. soul mate,” he says. “She nurtures
right now, while it’s on your “I decided I want to live,” he me. There are many days I don’t
mind — toss some cans and says. feel good. I don’t tell anybody
boxes in a sack. Or in one of Steve Perez / The Detroit News about it, but I have a lot of side
those bootleg plastic mail Road to treatment Mark Roby says that prayer, a positive attitude and a will to survive go a long way in fighting his disease. effects from this chemo. She
tubs, if you’re feeling partic- It’s not that he didn’t have a researches the potential side
ularly generous. Or what the typical human reaction to news effects, cooks organic foods for
heck, in a refrigerator box. he was dying. One day on the way whose backs are against the me and is my main advocate, my
Before your carrier shows up back to Detroit from Houston, About Roby wall,” he says. “My function is to main support system. She con-
Saturday, set the food out Roby was especially discouraged. Mark Roby, a cancer coach, homeopathic doctor and physician’s assistant, join with other people to help stantly tells me I am going to live.”
where it can be collected. Yet another oncologist had told offers private consultations to help people with cancer and other health them. People believe everything McComsey has equally power-
The letter carriers will take him nothing could be done for challenges. their doctor tells them, even if he ful words about him.
it from there, and Teamsters him, to go home and prepare to He doesn’t charge a set fee, but asks for a donation for his service. tells them they only have a “He is the focus of my life,” she
will ultimately take it from die. Alongside the highway, he To arrange a session with Roby, contact him at cancercoachnd@aol.com. month or six months to live.” says. “He means everything to me.
them, delivering it to places noticed a cross. He stopped his His friends held a walk-a-thon to benefit his healthcare costs and the Metro He tells his patients they have I have my work, my occupation,
like Gleaners and the Macomb car, got out and dragged himself Detroit Center for Attitudinal Healing on Saturday. If you’d like to contribute, to forgive others and themselves, but I pretty much devote most of
County Food Bank. through the woods to get closer send donations to Walk-A-Thon, 821 Hilldale Drive, Royal Oak, MI 48067. and surround themselves with my time to making food for him
In southeast Michigan last to it. Dropping to his knees, he positive people, change their and seeing to it that his particular
year, more than 1 million cried until he was so weak he diets and exercise. After analyz- needs are met.”
pounds of food made its way could no longer stand. When his ing their lab work, he provides a To Miok, Roby is a role model.
from mail trucks to the homes last tear fell, he knew he could go endless possibilities. He met the him raise money for his New plan for them, including supple- “Not too many people live with
of hungry people. Nationwide, on despite what any doctor said. internationally known teacher in York trips and pay for his chemo- ments they should take, foods to that cancer like he has,” she says.
the total was 70.7 million “I wasn’t sleeping. I was very, 1987 when he traveled to Cali- therapy, which isn’t covered by eat and foods to avoid. To many “He understands what a horrible
pounds. In fairly dismal eco- very frightened, and I had lost a fornia to take a class. Roby was so insurance. Last Saturday, a bene- of them, he suggests cancer fight- disease cancer is and he likes to
nomic times, that’s a heck of a lot of weight,” he says. “I had impressed that in 1992, he co- fit walk was held to help with ers such as vitamin D and wheat- help.”
lot of hope. pains in my side, and I kept get- founded the Metro Detroit Cen- expenses and raise money for the grass. But when it comes to fight- As for his own treatment, he
ting this negative news. I was ter for Attitudinal Healing in Attitudinal Healing Center in ing diseases, he says, one size isn’t afraid of blood tests or scans
Everyone contributes holding a lot inside. Seeing that Royal Oak at Jampolsky’s urging. Royal Oak. does not fit all. that send some cancer patients
I should point out that for cross, that huge cross and Following Jampolsky’s His cancer has cost him much His advice veers away from scurrying for natural healing,
me, this is personal. I’m on crying was the first time I advice, Roby forgave more than dollars and cents. the typical medical advice and refusing care from medical doc-
Gleaners’ advisory board, and got some of that fear everyone who ever Early into his journey, he was a leans on his spiritual guidance, tors.
I emceed the rally. I’ve done it released and got wronged him, and newlywed. When he started experience and education in Still, even miraculous treat-
long enough that I don’t even some calm and
peace. I felt a
“He’s helpful wrote letters to
about 25 people
rapidly losing weight and grew
critically ill and needed money to
homeopathic medicine.
“Most oncologists tell people
ment can wear you down. Roby
hides it well, but his daily chemo-
try to keep from getting
choked up when police cars voice inside of and inspiring with whom he travel to find help, his new bride to eat all they want, so they can therapy pills make him sick. He
me telling me had shared had news to share. gain weight,” Roby says. “Most of gets sores in his mouth, sweats at
with wailing sirens escort a
that God was
and informa- difficulties, “She said I am no longer at- the supplements they suggest are night and, at times, his hands and
convoy of four dozen horn-
honking postal trucks up going to help tional and edu- extending an tracted to you,” Roby recalls. “I filled with sugar. We try to stay feet throb with pain from neuro-
Beaufait Street to get things me survive.” olive branch don’t think I love you anymore. I away from that.” pathy.
rolling. He used cational. He for peace, a want a divorce.” Mioara Miok, an oncology Many days, Roby forces him-
Then the Truman High kids his renewed brings all this technique he He fell into deep depression. nurse at South Macomb Inter- self out of bed because he has
break into something stirring, strength. He learned in “A After overcoming that, Roby says nists in Warren, refers patients more people to help. Yet, he finds
and everyone in the ware- prayed for knowledge — Course in he realized it was for the best. His interested in complementary himself in the hospital at least a
house is ready to carry the guidance. and he does it Miracles.” ex-wife discouraged him from medicine to Roby. couple times of year from compli-
million pounds of groceries on One night, his Doors spending money to save his life. “A lot of the patients see how cations from cancer. He gets
their backs. Fortunately, we all late grandfa- for free. He’s a opened for He decided no matter the cost, he horrible they eat when they go to fatigued down to his bones be-
ultimately realize that’s not ther — an big help.” him. He found wanted to live. Mark,” she says. “The ones who cause he won’t take a break. He
practical. herbalist who his oncologist, really want to live change the says he has to keep working, keep
Mike Sheridan from the died at age 99 — MICHAEL RADNER, Dr. Robert Taub, Paying it forward way they eat.” making money to survive, to pay
came to him in a board member, Gilda’s at Columbia Roby estimates he has deliver- Earlier this week, he gave for his chemotherapy.
South Macomb Letter Carriers Club Worldwide, of
was one of the speakers Tues- dream, instructing Presbyterian Med- ed a message of health and hope advice to Jackie Janssen of Shel- So on this day, he lays back in
Mark Roby
day. He retired last year, “but I him to take vitamin ical Center in New to as many as 300 audiences. by Township, who survived the chair at Manresa and rests.
made a commitment to the C, herbal supplements, York City, who allowed Lately, he manages to get in at breast cancer but recently had This is where he is safe to share
food drive,” he said. fish oil and flax seed, and him to participate in a least one speech a month to tests that showed spots on her his secrets, the ones no one else
Paul Roznowski, president eat lots of leafy green vegetables. clinical trial for a new chemo- groups at hospitals, churches, liver and lungs. She shared her can bear to hear.
of NALC Royal Oak Branch Roby designed a new diet. He therapy drug, Sutent. The trial rehabilitation centers — any- concerns with Roby, who met “I look all over the world for
3126, still walks a route. “I used his knowledge of medicine explores the drug’s effectiveness where he can find someone will- with her at Gilda’s Club. He hope and answers,” he shares with
maybe collect from one in 10 and homeopathy and pored over on sarcomas, the rarest forms of ing to listen. placed bottles of the many sup- the women who have finished
houses,” he said. “Can you medical journals and searched cancer. Each day he lives, the 55-year- plements he takes on the coffee praying with him. “Sometimes, I
imagine what the total would the world for all the information Roby is optimistic about his old adds more names to the list table for her perusal. can’t find it. I always find it here.
be if it was two houses, or he could find on health and nu- health. He’s less positive about of people with whom he has When she started her session, Thank you.”
three or four?” trition to develop his dietary his money, and says he’s finan- shared his secrets to longevity. Janssen looked distressed, but
Jessica Grden, a junior at regiment. cially wiped out. He must take He finds them at Gilda’s Club of when Roby finished, the furrow You can reach Kimberly Hayes
Truman, didn’t say anything to He decided that if he changed trips to New York about every Metro Detroit in Royal Oak, disappeared from her brow and Taylor at (313) 222-2058 or
the crowd, but she played her his thinking, it could help heal five weeks. Although his treat- through word-of-mouth and she seemed more relaxed. ktaylor@detnews.com.
flute. his body. He said he stopped ment is free, he pays for hotel, referrals from friends and neigh-
You can’t always pick Jessi- judging others and strived to be food and other expenses. In bors.
ca’s instrument out when the more like Christ. Roby also dived recent months, he found the “He gives people information
band is in full thunder, she into “A Course in Miracles,” a American Cancer Society’s Hope and hope,” says Michael Radner,
acknowledged, but the flute spiritual study that teaches the Lodge, a center in New York’s board member of Gilda’s Club
section’s part is just as impor- way to God and inner peace is to Harlem district that provides Worldwide and volunteer at the
tant as everyone else’s. get rid of guilt and forgive others. lodging to cancer patients. He Royal Oak club. “He’s helpful and
“We’re all one big family,” “He began to change how he has medical coverage, but Roby inspiring and informational and
she said. Everyone contributes lived in life,” says Jampolsky, who has spent more than $100,000 to educational. He brings all this
what they can, and in the end, counsels Roby when he gets sick supplement his healthcare plan. knowledge — and he does it for
they’re all better off for it. or fearful. “He found peace of He took out a second mortgage free. He’s a big help.”
mind and inner peace.” on his house to offset medical Roby feels it’s his responsib-
Reach Neal Rubin at (313) Roby became aware of Jam- expenses. With that, he’s still ility.
222-1874 or nrubin@detnews polsky’s work in 1983 when he more than $70,000 in debt. His “God is allowing me to live so I
.com. read his books on miracles and friends and relatives have helped can hold a space for other people