This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Gilda's Club Celebrates National Cancer Survivors Day

The non-profit hosted "a day of inspiration and survivorship" Sunday in observance of National Cancer Survivors Day.

When it comes to being a survivor, Patrick Andre would be hard to top. He has survived colon cancer twice, and both attacks on the World Trade Center, in 1993 and 2001. 

The New Rochelle resident—and other speakers at Sunday's "National Cancer Survivors Day: A Celebration of Life" by  Gilda’s Club Westchester in White Plains —said that positivity was key to survival. 

That positivity is exactly what Gilda's Club, a non-medical support program for those who have cancer, as well as their families and friend—offers to their clients. The first Gilda’s Club, started in 1995 as a place for those struggling with cancer to talk to others, share feeling and information, laugh and cry in an informal setting. The club was started in honor of comedian and SNL star Gilda Radner, who died from ovarian cancer in 1989.  The Westchester chapter of Gilda’s Club on Maple Avenue in White Plains opened in 2001

Find out what's happening in White Plainswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In a frank and open manner, Andre discussed his diagnosis and the treatment plan that followed, his second diagnosis years later, and his presence in the World Trade Center’s south tower on Sept. 11, 2011. As the fire marshall for his floor, he said, he ignored instructions to keep his coworkers in the building after the north tower was hit; soon after, the south tower was hit about five floors above their office.

Andre said that his experience with having cancer twice, with thinking positively about it and accepting support from his family and growing stronger through it, has given him “the force and the love of life” that allow him to face any obstacle.

Find out what's happening in White Plainswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“As long as you have a positive mind,” he said, “you’ll overcome. And I have overcome.”

Dr. Ari DeLevie, a retired clinical psychologist who has lived in the Rosedale neighborhood of White Plains for over 40 years, gave his perspective as caregiver—or as he prefers to term it, “care partner.”

For the past two-and-a-half years, he has been care partner to his wife, who has been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. Why “care partner?,” he asked the audience rhetorically. “Because the person you are caring for gives you information,” he said. This helps, that doesn’t help, the loved one will say, and as the care partner processes and uses this information, “you are in fact care partners.”

DeLevie also spoke of the need to employ humor, even black humor, to comfort yourself and your loved one. He said that care partners must take time to take care of themselves, which will make them more effective and happier, and their loved one as well.

“You mourn before death,” he added, when you see your loved one suffering, and you should allow yourself to go through that process, he advised.

After the speakers, the full house was treated to musical numbers performed by the Hope for Change Players, representing the Hope for Change Foundation, which “pairs a love of theater with the desire to make a difference.”

The Somers-based group gives 100 percent of proceeds from its performances directly to cancer research. They sang thematically appropriate songs including “I Will Survive,” “We Are Family,” and “Live Out Loud.”

Robin Poses Markell of Rye Brook, a breast cancer survivor and cofounder of Gilda’s Club Westchester, said it was “a great event” as always; Gilda’s Club Westchester has been celebrating National Cancer Survivors Day for at least eight years, she said. The Club provides people from all walks of life with deep, rewarding relationships that enrich people’s lives and health, and cancer almost becomes secondary, Markell said.

“Cancer is the connection at first, but it goes from there,” she said. “It’s just the beginning of the relationship.”

White Plains Mayor Tom Roach, who was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer of the nasal pharynx in 2008, was at the event with his sons Lawson, 8, and Henry, 11.
As soon as they walked in, Roach said, Lawson grabbed him by the hand and took him to see Lawson’s handprint on a mural a children’s group at Gilda’s Club had done two years earlier. Henry also participated in a support group with other kids who were survivors themselves.

A big part of what Gilda’s Club does is provide support for loved ones of those dealing with a cancer diagnosis, which of course helps the entire family in the long run.

“At a time when we were at loose ends,” Roach said, “it was really amazingly helpful.” Aside from the fact that he and his family were beneficiaries, he added, Gilda’s Club Westchester is “great to have in our city.”

Today, Roach is considered cured, and gets checked out every six months. They mayor also noted that he has been impressed that the leadership at Gilda’s Club Westchester never asks users of their services for donations, “even subtly,” he said. They don’t leave donation envelopes lying around, he said, though they do rely on outside funding to maintain their building on Maple Avenue and to provide services.

On that note, a dinner fundraiser will be held at The Melting Pot, at 30 Mamaroneck Ave. in White Plains, on June 16. A portion of the evening’s restaurant sales, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., will be donated to Gilda’s Club Westchester. Diners will also be able to meet Gilda’s Club staff and learn about other ways to support the Club.

For more information on the fundraiser visit meltingpot.com/white_plains or call 914-993-6358. Visit www.gildasclubwestchester.org for more on Gilda’s Club.

Like us on Facebook (facebook.com/WhitePlainsPatch) and follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/WhtPlainsPatch)

Download the movie

Download the movie

Download the movie

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?