Written by Andrea Plassman, Gilda’s Club volunteer When Marah Bengston first stepped through the red doors of Gilda’s Club Madison, she was searching for a way to strengthen her medical school applications. She had no idea she was about to find so much more—meaningful relationships, a deeper purpose, and the spark that would ignite a…
Read More“I realized I wasn’t alone at all.”
by Hattie Wood Here I am, 17 and facing college. Wanting to give back and gain volunteer experience, I called up an old friend: Gilda’s Club. Years ago, it had been a place of comfort and understanding for my family. Now, I am returning, this time as a volunteer. Many Tuesday nights, I took a…
Read MoreChampion Spotlight: Patti Wise
“I was diagnosed 15 years ago with breast cancer. That’s how long I’ve been on this journey,” explains long-time Gilda’s Club volunteer Patti Wise. Anyone who has met Patti is likely to remember her. She has a big smile and is full of warm energy. You may have seen her organizing the Gilda’s Club library,…
Read MoreChampion Spotlight: Sarah and Nathan Condella
“I was most excited for the opportunity to give back in many ways- my personal giving, raising community awareness, volunteerism, and more,” shares Sarah Condella, past Gilda’s Club board member and Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Exact Sciences. Sarah joined the Gilda’s Club Board of Directors back in 2015. Sarah was seeking an…
Read More“This Place Looks Fun!”
By Ryan Cigler, Gilda’s Club Volunteer That was my first thought when I ran by Gilda’s Club for the first time back in June 2010. My family had just relocated back to Wisconsin after living in Colorado for eight years. I was out for a run and took the path behind the clubhouse when I…
Read MoreCreating a Better Way – The Gilda’s Club Madison Early Founders’ Story
Facing a diagnosis like cancer can feel profoundly lonely. Even if you’re surrounded by loved ones and expert medical care, it’s hard to feel like you belong. And, sometimes, you feel more like a patient than a person. But the early founders of Gilda’s Club Madison knew there had to be a better approach to…
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Angie Rieves
“The first time I walked into a Gilda’s Club was after my friend died,” remembers Angie Rieves. It was 2007, and one of her best friends, Jessica, had recently passed away from cancer at 25 years old. Angie went to GIlda’s Club Milwaukee looking for support, and later began volunteering. When she moved back to…
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