Nonprofit aids single mothers battling cancer

In life, Michelle Singleton was known for doing good deeds. In death, her legacy of helping others is being carried on by two of her longtime friends.

"She would feed the homeless every weekend and go to yard sales and buy them clothes. She was a giver," Andy Royal said of Singleton, a young single mother of four from Phoenix who lost her life to cancer two years ago.

Last year Royal, 32, of Tempe, and Jody Farley-Berens, 30, of Scottsdale - who became friends of Singleton when the three were teenagers, formed Singleton Moms, a nonprofit organization named in Michelle's honor that is dedicated to helping single mothers with cancer.

On Sunday morning, the organization will hold its first Singleton Moms 5K Walk/Run Fundraiser at Chaparral Park in Scottsdale to raise funds so they can continue to provide emotional and financial support to struggling mothers as they undergo medical treatment for cancer.

"These women are already worried about surviving and having to say goodbye to their children. They shouldn't have to worry about putting a roof over their head," said Farley-Berens, who decided with Royal a few months after Singleton's death to work through their grief by helping other single mothers like her alleviate some of their stress so they can concentrate on getting well.

The two contacted a Maricopa County oncology unit last winter to "adopt" a single mom.

With funds raised through friends and relatives, Royal and Farley-Berens reached out to a 39-year-old Glendale woman named Aricella who had three children younger than 10.

"She was touched and a little amazed," remembered Farley-Berens of their first encounter with Aricella.

Farley-Berens and Royal brought Aricella and her children meals and gave her money toward her medical expenses.

Royal also accompanied Aricella to her chemotherapy treatments.

"One day Aricella's sister asked her who Andy was. She said, she's my angel," Farley-Berens recalled.

Singleton Moms helped Aricella until she died in August.

Berens and Royal say they currently have enough funds to modestly help four single Valley mothers. With a database of 200 volunteers on call, the members deliver two dinners a week to the moms, clean their homes, baby-sit their children and contribute funds toward paying their medical expenses.

"Our ultimate goal is to pay their rent or mortgage through their entire treatment," said Berens, who admits sometimes it's difficult emotionally to take care of the mothers whom they have grown close to, knowing they may lose some of them.

"We may need to get grief counseling," said Farley-Berens, a mother of three - who along with Royal, who's also a mom - juggle their time managing the organization, while working part time at a day care center.

"Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I think about the women we are helping and why I'm doing this. They need the help," said Farley-Berens.

Carla Draper, 41, of Chandler said she is grateful for the support she's been receiving from Singleton Moms since December.

"They bring me meals and came to clean my home," said Draper, who was referred to Singleton Moms by a social worker at her son's high school.

Draper, who said she became estranged from her husband last fall around the time she started chemotherapy, said she suddenly found herself alone, trying to deal with cancer, paying bills and a pending divorce.

"I consider Andy my friend," said Draper, who hopes to one day return the favor."When I'm done with my treatment, I want to help Andy and Jody and be a volunteer."

Fundraiser

When: 9 a.m. Sunday

Where: Chaparral Park, 5401 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale

Information: $50 registration fee; call (602) 743-8873 or visit www.singletonmoms.org