Member Stories
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Jo Anne and Sandee
Jo Anne Lee and Sandee Jefferson Hadley became a part of Gilda's Club after each was diagnosed with cancer. Their journeys started on different paths, but they have come together here at Gilda's Club to find support.
Sandee first came to Gilda's in 2004. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, and it took coming down from the initial shock before she could walk through our red doors. She finally joined because she needed support from others that were going through the same thing.
Jo Anne first came to Gilda's Club as a health professional interested in the open to the public lectures and information. Then, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer four years ago after a routine check up. Her daughter ended up persuading her to join GCW as a member in 2007. Jo Anne said, "When I first visited Gilda's, I was hooked for life – little did I know how true that would be."
Jo Anne and Sandee both found the support they were looking for through the activities at Gilda's Club Westchester. Sandee attends networking groups, social activities, nutrition workshops, lectures, and she volunteers at monthly mailings and as a Gilda's Club Ambassador. Jo Anne participates in just about everything from Zumba, Coffee Talk with Essie, Beading with Diane, writer's workshops, and networking groups. She also volunteers as an Ambassador for Gilda's. More recently, both women have been involved with starting Sistah's Circle.
Sistah's Circle is for women of color who have been touched by any type of cancer. This group offers women who are newly diagnosed, and those who are survivors, a supportive and informative forum to connect, share experiences and address issues regarding how cancer specifically impacts ethnic communities. Sistah's Circle is open to the public and attracts a group of women who are all different, yet share something in common. The group gives women of color an opportunity to be with other women who understand what they are feeling and for each woman to offer their own information and experiences. "It is comforting to be with a group of people who are all in it together, no matter what type of cancer. We are always learning from each other," explains Sandee.
Gilda's Club Westchester and Sistah's Circle is a place where people can come and gain new friendships. In fact, Sandee and Jo Anne were both members of the same church, but it wasn't until their paths met at Gilda's where they finally met and became friends.
"Gilda's Club Westchester is a place to come and fill time; it gives you a purpose," says Sandee. "Sistah's Circle gives an additional purpose. Laughing and feeling for others is very therapeutic."
For more information about Sistah's Circle, read the article in the most recent GildaGram.
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