Gilda's Club Inc

The Gilda's Club program (called the Basic III 'Plus') is composed of the following elements that take place in every clubhouse:

Support and Networking Groups

Weekly Wellness Groups for those living with cancer and Family Groups for family members and friends, and monthly Networking Groups on a particular kind of cancer or topic of common interest (prostate cancer, young adults with cancer, living solo with cancer, etc.)

Lectures and Workshops

These activities provide opportunities for acquiring new skills, tools, information and techniques to learn how to live with cancer. Typical lecture topics, which are selected based on members' interests, include stress reduction, nutrition, talking to your children about cancer, and managing pain. Major workshop areas include art and other forms of self-expression, meditation, exercise and yoga, and cooking.

Social Activities

These are among the most popular offerings at Gilda's Clubs and vary from potluck suppers with music to karaoke nights to joke fests or comedy nights to major celebrations around special holidays (Halloween is a real favorite!). Having members and families come together for fun creates bonds that enhance other individual and group experiences.

Team Convene™

Facilitated by a staff member, these two-hour sessions are requested by a person with cancer or family member to create an active support network at the time of diagnosis and for any challenging situations that may follow (e.g., a hospital stay or home recuperation). Sessions include all significant friends and family in a member's life, who join together to provide support for transportation, food preparation, childcare, etc.

Family Focus™

The Family Focus meeting, including anyone a member defines as family and facilitated by a staff member, is designed to enlist the entire family as a resource and help them learn together how to live with cancer. It seeks to identify and discuss family beliefs about cancer, critical family issues, and immediate practical problems as well as solutions.

Noogieland™

This is both the Gilda's Club program and play area for children, as well as a supplement to the core program for parents who are members. In a special area of every clubhouse, activities are conducted for children impacted by cancer, whether directly or by having a family member or friend with cancer. Most Gilda's Clubs also have several kinds of activity for teens, who frequently volunteer in many parts of the clubhouse.

ph&d

The goal of ph&d is to address the often-neglected social and emotional needs of cancer survivors, and their families and friends, in a unique and innovative way through a well-defined program of education and support activities. Specifically, it assists cancer survivors in achieving perspective, integration and gaining information about their life post-treatment. ph&d also offers provides a unique approach to social and emotional support for those who have loved ones who have died of cancer.