The Wellness Community & Gilda's Club Merge to Form
New Cancer Support Community
The Wellness Community and Gilda’s Club Worldwide have joined together to become the nation’s largest professionally-led network of social and emotional support services for cancer patients and their loved ones. With their new, combined identity – Cancer Support Community (CSC) – the organization hopes to further expose their presence to the cancer community in order to ensure that no one faces cancer alone.
For the organization’s Atlanta affiliate, CSC-Atlanta, which has held a unique partnership with Northside Hospital for 10 years, the merger only further extends an already-powerful network of cancer care. More newly diagnosed cases of cancer are diagnosed and treated at Northside Hospital than at any other community hospital in Georgia. The hospital first partnered with The Wellness Community (TWC)-Atlanta Northside in 2000 and, at the time, was the only hospital in the United States to partner with a TWC affiliate to offer comprehensive support services for cancer patients. Since then, more hospitals across the country have started their own partnerships, but Northside remains a pioneer.
“Though we are transitioning, we will continue to provide our participants with the same programming that they have come to look forward to and regularly attend,” said Christy Chappelear Andrews, executive director, CSC-Atlanta. “We are so excited about this merger and new identity because, together, we will only enhance our existing programs and ultimately strengthen our mission.”
“Being with others, who have cancer, has been so helpful and comforting,” said Yvonne Eppinga, a cancer survivor, who participates in programs at the Cancer Support Community. “Every time that I am at the Cancer Support Community, I am so grateful for the people who staff the center and for all of the classes which support healing on so many levels.”
In 2009, CSC-Atlanta saw nearly 15,400 patient visits among its many educational, social and therapeutic programs, as well as other resources and services. All programs are free to participants and are led by licensed therapists and trained professionals, who have years of experience in offering encouragement and hope. Programs include:
- educational seminars on nutrition, communication, intimacy and understanding cancer treatment
- support groups for patients, loved ones and their caregivers
- special support programs dedicated to children ages 5-12
- gentle exercise classes in yoga, T’ai Chi and Pilates
- art therapy programs
- stress reduction programs
- other social and educational events
“Our programs serve as an adjunct to traditional medical treatment,” said Andrews. “And we look forward to expanding our services to include cooking demonstrations with local chefs and our dietitians, and other social opportunities that allow our participants to gather and further build relationships before and after classes.”
“Northside Hospital recently was recognized as a National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program, which enables us to offer more research opportunities and state-of-the-art treatment, along with the personalized, compassionate care that is typically associated only with a community hospital,” said Patti Owen, director of oncology services, Northside Hospital. “The services provided by the Cancer Support Community are another integral part of our comprehensive continuum of cancer care and we are proud to be affiliated with the organization.”
Although CSC-Atlanta receives strong support from Northside Hospital, everyone, whose life has been touched by a cancer diagnosis, regardless of where they were treated, is welcome to participate in the programs, free of charge. Programs are available in Atlanta, Forsyth and Cherokee.
For more information about the Cancer Support Community-Atlanta, visit www.cscatlanta.org.
