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 new career path.
It all started during the relaunch of Family Night, a weekly program that offers support to children and families impacted by cancer. Whether a child has cancer themselves or a loved one is undergoing treatment, Gilda’s Club creates a space where they can laugh, play, and—when they’re ready—talk about the hard stuff.
Marah volunteered as part of the children’s program, Kid Support. From the start, she was welcomed not just as an extra pair of hands, but as a vital part of the team. Volunteers at Gilda’s Club don’t just follow instructions—they bring their full selves, their insights, and their compassion into every interaction.
And one night, all of that came together in an unexpected moment.
A Simple Question That Changed Everything
The theme that evening was “All About Cancer,” and the kids were participating in activities designed to explain the basics of the disease. As the group explored, one child asked, “How does cancer even start in the first place?”
It was an innocent question with enormous weight—and for Marah, it was a turning point.
She could see that the response, “Sometimes it just happens,” wasn’t satisfying this curious young mind. “Kids know when they’re not getting the full story,” she says.
Drawing from her undergraduate degree in genetics, Marah decided to try something different. She created an activity using a bowl of soapy water and blowing bubbles. The bubbles represented cells—multiplying and growing, as they’re supposed to. But sometimes, she explained, a cell gets bad information. It doesn’t stop when it should, and it keeps multiplying. More and more bubbles. That’s how cancer can start.
The children understood. “It just clicked,” Marah recalls. “It just connected some pieces, so they didn’t have to keep wondering or creating their own ideas of how cancer begins. Having that extra piece of information can help kids not blame themselves or not make up really scary answers to why it begins.”
Parents later approached Marah to say how much that simple explanation had helped their children—and, in turn, their whole family.
Finding a New Path
That moment stayed with Marah. She had already decided that being a doctor was not a good fit for her, but what she now realized was that she wanted to be someone who could help families understand the “why” behind a diagnosis; someone who could bridge the gap between complex science and everyday life.
She wanted to become a genetic counselor.
“It helped me see how powerful that role could be in helping families talk to each other about what they’re facing,” she says. “I want to be someone who helps a parent explain cancer to their child.”
This fall, Marah will begin graduate school in Minneapolis to pursue that dream. And yes—there’s a Gilda’s Club there, too.
Giving Back, Moving Forward
While her professional path is just beginning, Marah knows she’ll carry Gilda’s Club with her wherever she goes. She hopes to one day return not just as a volunteer, but as a licensed genetic counselor who can provide education and support to members facing hereditary cancer risks.
When asked what her dream job would be, she says, “I want to sit face-to-face with patients. I want to be in the room with them— to offer empathy, and help them understand what’s happening.”
A Place That Changes Lives
Marah speaks about Gilda’s Club with genuine warmth and gratitude. “From the very beginning, it was just such a welcoming place,” she says. “They don’t just let you volunteer—they listen to you. They value your voice. You’re part of a community.”
And what a community it is. Week after week, Marah watched children form friendships, open up about their fears, and grow more confident in the face of unimaginable challenges. “It’s just really rewarding,” she says. “You form these friendships with little kids, and you know you’re helping them feel safe, seen, and understood.”
Marah came to Gilda’s Club hoping to help others—and she did, in ways she never could have imagined. But what she didn’t expect was how much she’d be helped in return: to find her purpose, to trust her path, and to discover that sometimes, the smallest moments—like a bowl of bubbles—can lead to the biggest breakthroughs.