AUBURN - A local man attributed his faith and the community's love to giving him the strength to push on despite being diagnosed with acute myeloma leukemia.

Louis Bellerdine, of Auburn, greeted people at the Ukrainian National Club's doors, during a benefit held in his honor Sunday. Bellerdine said he was starting to feel better after going through three chemotherapy sessions and undergoing a bone marrow transplant in November.

But with 90 percent of patients surviving the first year of treatment and only 17 percent surviving after five years, Bellerdine said he has to remain optimistic about the future after being diagnosed last June.

“I was shocked when I was diagnosed, but either way I will win,” he said. “If I am cured then I know God put me here on earth to do more good, and if not, then I will be in heaven with Him. Either way I am going to win, I don't think you can approach this any other way.”

Waterloo resident Nancy Gilbo, who worked with Bellerdine at the Finger Lakes Developmental Disabilities Services Office for nearly eight years, said she was shocked when he had to stop working in order to undergo treatment.

“We were all very shocked, you don't think about it until it happens to someone you know and then it hits home,” Gilbo said. “I wanted to help him so I came. He would do the same thing for anyone else. He has a very big heart, is very religious and very giving.”

Louis' daughter, Jessica Bellerdine, said she organized the event to help her father pay off his medical bills after he was told he will not be able to return to work for a year due to treatment and that insurance would not cover all of the treatment.

“It's been very difficult for me. Honestly it's probably one of the most difficult things I have seen with him going through treatment,” Jessica said. “Fortunately God and his friends have all been here to support him. Even people that neither of us know are supporting him.”

With so many people attending his cousin's benefit, Bill Bellerdine said it was great seeing the community coming together to help Bellerdine in his time of need.

“It's terrific because Auburn is a great community,” Bill said. “You don't realize it until something happens but everyone pitches in and everyone is family here.

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net

How to help

To help out the family, people may send a check to the Louis Bellerdine Benefit Fund to M&T Bank, 237 Grant Ave., Auburn NY, 13021.