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Community

Gilda's Club Expands to Serve Both Sides of the QC

Gilda's Club Community Room
Provided by Gilda's Club
Gilda's Club Community Room

Gilda's Club is now serving both sides of the Mississippi River. Yesterday it held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate its new location in Davenport.

Its offices are now located at Unity Point Trinity in Moline, and Genesis West in Davenport.

Executive Director Joy McMeekan says Gilda's Club was formed after comedian Gilda Radner died of cancer. Gilda's Club works to provide psychosocial support to those impacted by cancer- both those disgnosed and their loved ones.

"Gilda Radner said that getting cancer made her a part of a club, required her to be a member of a club that she never wanted to be a part of but she was so glad that she had that support."

Gilda's Club logo
Gilda's Club Facebook page
Gilda's Club logo

Gilda's Club has four ways to help its members: education, lifestyle activities, social events, and support groups.

McMeekan says the goal of the expansion to both sides of the river is to reach more people.

"We have just under 2,000 people each year in the Quad City area that are diagnosed with cancer and we knew we weren't reaching 50% of that population. And so that's kind of what started the conversation, is how can we reach those people that truly need us?"

When it opened in the Quad Cities 24 years ago it was only the 7th Gilda's Club in the nation. The club is free of charge for anyone affected by cancer. For more information go to gildasclubqc.org

Community