"I like coming to Gilda's Club because I am able to talk openly and express my feelings without judgment."

— Ajael

The Evans Family

Gilda's Club Members

Lawrencia came to Gilda's Club in search of emotional and social support in February 2011, after having been diagnosed with breast cancer. As a wife and mother of four, Lawrencia benefits from the entire GCNYC program participating in a weekly Wellness Group and educational lectures while her three daughters take part in our Teen Program.

To Lawrencia, her Wellness Group feels like a family. "We are relaxed with one another and have the freedom to express ourselves. We feel ongoing care, love and support from each other."

At Gilda's Club NYC, we support the entire family and Lawrencia's three daughters, Ajael, Adora, and Lena, participate in the Teen Family/Friends Networking Group, for teens who have a family member or friend living with cancer, or who are living with a diagnosis of cancer themselves. All three also attend the Teens Connect Networking Group, which is a group for teens impacted by cancer in any way, providing an opportunity for teens to socialize, network, and participate in a variety of specialized workshops.

Ajael, Adora and Lena all receive the emotional and social support they need in their Teen Program. Adora stated, "Shortly after my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, she became a part of this club and she began to tell us the stories she shared with other members. To me, this was exciting and I wanted to become a part of Gilda's Club. The events here are exciting and what the club does for my family and others is welcoming."

Lena, started in the Noogieland Program at age 12 and transitioned into the Teen Program recently at age 13. Regarding her thoughts on Gilda's Club, Lena shared, "I like Gilda's Club because I get a chance to meet people in a situation similar to mine and share my thoughts and feelings about things I may not be able to express myself about elsewhere."

Ajael is one of our teen members at Gilda's Club New York City. She is a bright young woman who loves Volleyball, R&B music and all of the Final Destination movies.

Ajael

Teen member of Gilda's Club

Aajael's favorite things:

Sport: Volleyball

Book: Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Movie: Final Destination series

Color: Red

Season: Summer

Music: R&B

In the Fall of 2010, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. When Ajael came to Gilda's Club, she wanted to connect with others who could understand what she was going through. The Teen Family & Friends Group gave her that opportunity by introducing her to other teens who have a loved one living with cancer.

She enjoys participating in the Teen Program because it allows her to interact and talk openly with her peers who can relate to what she is feeling and experiencing.

In addition to participating in the Teen Program, Ajael has taken advantage of the opportunities offered by Gilda's Club to become more involved in the cancer community through activism. She has since participated in the 2011 Revlon Run/Walk in New York City as a member of the Gilda's Club NYC team, and will participate in the TEAL walk next month.

“I really enjoy being a part of the team at Gilda's Club New York City. We work together to make the membership experience a positive one for all individuals at GCNYC.”

Esther Shaw

GCNYC Social Worker since 2007

Esther is one of our dedicated social workers that facilitates weekly support groups at Gilda's Club New York City. She currently facilitates two support groups: a Wellness Group - a support group for individuals diagnosed with cancer, and a Family Group - a support group for family members and friends that have been impacted by cancer.

"I really love facilitating groups at Gilda's Club," Esther says. “The mesh of members is such an important piece of support.”

Regarding the diversity of GCNYC Wellness groups, Esther states, "Initially, some people feel strange talking with others with different types of cancer. However, after one or two meetings, that dissipates and they all see similarities and differences with one another. They begin to feel that one person does not have to have the same kind of cancer for members to be empathic to one another."

In her spare time, Esther loves to play tennis, read and get together with friends. She especially loves working with graduate students that are involved in the Master's level social work program at Columbia University.

Gilda's Club has truly enriched his life and that of his children during a difficult experience of loss.

Micah and Richard

Gilda's Club Members

Richard lives with his two sons Lev age 16, and Micah age 9 on the Upper West Side of the Manhattan.  Rich joined Gilda's Club in April 2010 to seek bereavement support for his children due to the loss of their mother, Deborah, to cancer.  His son, Micah, began to attend Noogie Nights, a weekly children's support group, where he could join other children who are also grieving the loss of a parent.  

    Rich was introduced to the Gilda's Club Bereavement program by a former member and attends a weekly support group at GCNYC. He finds Gilda's Club NYC helpful and rewarding and appreciates the genuine concern expressed by his group in discussing his day to day challenges in raising two young boys as a single parent.

A little about Richard:
  Richard is an attorney in private practice.  He enjoys reading books about American History and Politics. He loves to travel both within the US and internationally. Richard finds nothing more relaxing than kayaking on the Delaware River. He is also active in his synagogue activities.  In a previous life he was the lyricist for a rock band in the early 80's.

"At my first group session, a woman voiced the exact
emotion I was feeling."

Edward

Gilda's Club Volunteer

In 2004, after Edward was diagnosed with cancer for the third time and told he would go through rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, his internist recommended that he get outside help. Although he was nervous to talk to others about his experiences, he took the plunge and came to a New Member Meeting at Gilda's Club. At his first group session, a woman voiced the exact emotion he was feeling—it was his "eureka!" moment. Edward attended his weekly support group session and bonded with others who understood what he was going through.

After 4 years, Edward realized that the weekly sessions were no longer a necessity in his life, but he still wanted to be involved in some way by volunteering. He opted to become a New Member Meeting facilitator because in his words, "I walked the walk and talked the talk." In 2010 Edward was honored with Gilda's Club NYC's Volunteer Appreciation Award and he continues to be an integral part of the GCNYC community.

According to Edward, the best things about being a volunteer are:
• Seeing members' shocked reactions when he tells them everything at
Gilda's Club is completely free
• Watching the new members realize the commonality that they all have
and start to share ideas with one another 
• "Knowing that I am giving back to Gilda's Club. I couldn't have gotten
through that time in my life with out it."

Edward's favorite pastimes:

• Sampling local cuisines while he travels the globe, most notably in
Peru, Ecuador and China
• Lunching with friends around the city
• Crossing things off his "bucket list"

"I love Noogieland.  It is the best place ever."

Gigi and Margaux

Gilda's Club Members

Margaux's favorite things:

Sport: Kickball

Book: The bedeviled series

Movie: Daddy Day Care

Color: Purple, blue, pink, black & red

Food: Pizza

Season: Fall, because my birthday is in the Fall
Winter, because I love the cold
Summer, because there is no school

Singer: Kelly Clarkson and Bruno Mars

Gigi came to Gilda's Club New York City in August of 2010, after having been diagnosed with breast cancer several months before.  Gigi attends a Wellness group on a weekly basis, a support group with other adults who also have a personal cancer diagnosis.  Gigi's youngest child, ten-year old Margaux, attends her group in Noogieland weekly as well.  Gilda's Club was able to coordinate it so that both mother and daughter can come to the Clubhouse together and participate in their prospective programs at the same time.  When Margaux describes Noogieland, she states that it is "like being in heaven; you can get support and be with other kids who have someone in their family that has cancer.  We have fun, talk, play games, and do activities.  I love Noogieland.  It is the best place ever."  Gigi has found similar comfort within the walls of Gilda's Club as well, stating that Gilda's Club "is wonderful because it normalizes cancer.  It is great to be face to face with a group of people that get it; people that I can count on."

"I Love everything about Noogieland!"

Star

Age 9
Gilda's Club Member

Star's favorite things:

Sport: Baseball; Star is a big Yankees fan

Book: Matilda

Movie: Matilda as well

Color: Green

Food: Lasagna

Season: Summer because her birthday falls in this season

Flower: Star loves lilies; her middle name is Lily as well.

Singer: Star loves Justin Bieber and Katy Perry

Star is a nine-year old girl who joined Gilda's Club New York City in November of 2010, after her mother was diagnosed with uterine and cervical cancer. Star participates regularly in the Children's Program at Gilda's Club, attending her weekly group in Noogieland. When asked what her favorite part of Noogieland was, Star happily replied, "That is an impossible question for me to answer. That is because I love everything about Noogieland." Star is able to attend the Children's Program in Noogieland thanks to the generosity and support of people like you.