By Miki Hill and Valerie Weber
Kingsbury Correspondents
‘Enter here?/past the dragons/ with a smile, across the/ moat, through the castle to Noogieland?
ROYAL OAK ? Kingsbury School, a private school in rural Oxford, recently made a special connection with Gilda’s Club in Royal Oak.
Junior Kindergartener Morgan Hubert, second grader Chase Thiede, and third graders Autumn Buysse and Evan Hubert delivered toys donated by Kingsbury kids to Gilda’s Club, a non-residential cancer support community that has over 4,000 members in the Detroit area.
The gifts were made available to young members of Gilda’s Club for distribution at their Annual Holiday Celebration December 12. All gifts provided at the Holiday Celebration were donated, said Michelle Warren, the Noogieland Program Manager at the Royal Oak location, and her goal is to make sure all children receive at least one gift of their choice.
A bright red door leads to this sanctuary that opened in 1998 for those affected by cancer. Gilda’s Club is a non-profit organization that provides ’emotional and social support? to cancer patients, their family, and friends.
A total of 19 Gilda’s Clubs are now open in the United States and Canada; and two are in Michigan. The first Gilda’s Club opened in New York City in 1995.
All of the clubs offer free membership to both sexes, young and old alike. Their doors are open six days a week; you will always find someone there to laugh and cry with. ? It’s a warm great place’you’re welcome to come here ‘we want people to know it’s a great place to be,? explained Ms. Warren.
Chase Thiede, the Kingsbury second grader, lost his grandfather to cancer in 1999 and he and his family belonged to Gilda’s Club. It was Terri Thiede, Chase’s mother, who suggested making this connection.
Gilda’s Club was named after Gilda Radner, the actress and an original cast member of Saturday Night Live who grew up in Detroit. Ms. Radner died of cancer in 1989 at the age of 42. Ms. Radner was part of a cancer support community after her diagnosis, and her dream was that anyone dealing with cancer would be able to receive the kind of support she found there. In response to her wishes, Joanna Bull, her cancer therapist, and Gene Wilder, her actor/husband, began Gilda’s Club.
Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit is run by five full-time staff members and supported by many volunteer workers that do things like running workshops or keeping the flower gardens green.
Members take part in different group activities and workshops, like a knitting and crocheting class or a Chess Round-Up, and also information programs, such as updates on cancer treatment from medical professionals, and inspirational conversations with cancer survivors. Appropriately, the Gilda’s Club calendar is filled with music and drama, and a recent ‘satirical musical dramedy? was titled ‘Cancer the Musical.? Gilda’s Club has a spot in every member’s heart. ‘Our members are experts,? says Ms. Warren.
Two annual fundraisers help meet the $1,000,000 annual budget. The Family Walk is a non-competitive, three-mile walk through the Farmington Hills area with a big celebration, including a concert, afterwards.
Gilda’s ‘Big Night Out? is a gala event where those influenced by cancer of all types can get out their ‘cocktail attire? and have some fun. There’s live entertainment and those attending can take part in various auctions.
Every Gilda’s Club has a Noogieland, a fantasy world that offers ‘goodies and activities for children of all ages to share.? Noogieland Support Clubs, such as the Kids Club or the Teen Club, offer opportunities for children and teens to discuss the impact of cancer. ‘Noogieland? refers to the ‘knuckle sandwich on the forehead? that Ms. Radner made famous on Saturday Night Live.
Ms. Warrren said the decision to name the children’s program after the ‘noogie? reflects the happy nature of the program. ‘It was really cool, because there was a play place where kids could play in,? said Autumn Buysse, one of the Kingsbury students who helped make the delivery.
Autumn and her fellow students who made the trip were invited to join Gilda’s Club members in a Kid’s Club Gingerbread House decoration activity.
In the future, Kingsbury kids plan to stay in touch with this important community organization.