Gilda Radner of Saturday Night Live fame left two legacies - her comedic brilliance and her vision for creating a place in which people with cancer and their families could receive vital emotional and social support. While living with ovarian cancer, Gilda visited a cancer support group in Los Angeles where she realized the power of connecting with others who had cancer. She found she shared the same fears and concerns, and was able to get support around treatments, relationships, sexuality and other issues common to those living with cancer. Through her experience, she reclaimed a sense of humor and gained strength for dealing with her diagnosis.
Borrowing a quip from Groucho Marx, Gilda often reflected on joining "an elite club I'd rather not belong to." However, what she experienced through her support group was a unique combination of camaraderie and friendship that arises when people face cancer together - whether they are living with the disease, are a family member or friend. Gilda's vision was that every person touched by cancer would have a place to gather with others to share hopes and fears, gain wisdom and information and learn together how to live with cancer, whatever the outcome.
With your generosity and support, we can help fulfill Gilda's vision by opening Gilda's Club Greater Washington, a place where people with cancer and their families can learn what it means to live with cancer and realize that they are not alone.
