Like many of our supporters and volunteers, Kathleen Kelm has been personally touched by cancer. Her mother was diagnosed with childhood cancer back in 1935. Back then, the treatment for cancer was to place radium directly onto her cancerous lump. “That was what they did back then,” Kathleen explains.
“There were no support systems,” Kathleen continues. Her mother struggled with isolation due to the stigma of having childhood cancer.
Unfortunately, we now know that radiation can cause cancer as well as treat it, and her mother’s cancer recurred several times throughout her life. She ultimately passed away from it when she was 56 years old.
“It’s for all of the unexpected moments in your life”
Later in her life, Kathleen was a single parent when her daughter was diagnosed. She says that she was privileged with a good job, a nice home. “But, man, it would have been nice to have a place. There was no support system for us back then,” she explains. Her daughter is now an adult and thriving, but she hasn’t forgotten that experience.
Both of these experiences, plus the stories of others in her family, have helped inform her support for Gilda’s Club. “When we talk about why Gilda’s Club is important…it’s for all of the unexpected moments in your life,” Kathleen explains.
Building Support Networks
Kathleen is in two elite groups at Gilda’s Club: Our Decade Club (for donors who have given every year for 10 or more years) and our Red Door Society (our three-year pledge society that is the “lifeblood” of our programs). Kathleen is also a regular Gilda’s volunteer helping with a variety of projects, from helping with special events to program greeting to helping with mailings.
“I believe in using our privilege to help others. I’ve seen what Gilda’s can do. It’s in my DNA,” shares Kathleen.
Three causes are near and dear to Kathleen’s heart: Food insecurity, civic duty, and support networks (which is where Gilda’s Club fits in).
Using Machine Learning
Kathleen is spreading passion for these important causes through her profession. She teaches computer science at both Edgewood College and the University of Liverpool, reaching students from all over the world through online classes.
In her lessons, Kathleen encourages students to tackle public health projects. They use cool technology like machine learning to discover new things. For example, one student is looking into why heart problems are more common in Iraq than nearby countries. “I’m so keen to have people use machine learning…maybe we’ll find a connection that we don’t currently know,” she explains.
For Kathleen, Gilda’s Club serves as essential scaffolding, acting as a safety net for individuals navigating tough times, ensuring they receive the necessary support.