A special walk is planned for Saturday, Sept. 11 to raise money for Gilda's Club

WXYZ - A diagnosis of cancer can come with fear, stress and a daunting series of medical procedures. Most patients can really use some social and emotional support from people who really understand what they’re going through.
That’s where Gilda’s Club comes in.
Gilda’s club is named for comedian, and Detroiter, Gilda Radner. When cancer patients walk thru the trademark red door, they enter a very special place
Gilda died in 1989 after a long battle with ovarian cancer.
Her brother, Michael, says it’s a battle she didn’t have to fight alone. “When she was in California dealing with her cancer was directed to a place called the wellness community. And it was social and emotional support and she found that so helpful.”
So when she got back to the east coast, Gilda was determined to create a similar kind of community.
Gilda was actually bringing people into her home to offer some support to people.
The first club opened in Manhattan. Then in 1995, a Gilda’s Club came to Royal Oak.
Gilda’s Club offers 125 program activities each month. Everything from quilting to poetry reading. And while mom or dad is involved in workshops there’s a special place for kids to unwind. And there’s never a cost.
According to Heather Hall, Executive Director of the metro Detroit Gilda’s Club, “A lot of our members have lost their jobs and so having a program like this to come to, it just brings them some happiness, some extra support they may need.”
So this Saturday Gilda’s Club is holding one of their largest fundraisers of the year – a 2-mile walk and health fair. It’s being held at Lawrence Tech University in Southfield. The walk starts at 9 am. Tickets are $40 for adults and $15 for children age 2 to 15.
Michael Radner says “It’s a wonderful event, it’s a good cause and it’s the kind of thing that allows us to keep our signature red door open so that nobody in metro Detroit has to face cancer alone.”
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