Tuesday, July 17, 2012

It’s been a sad week. On Thursday, July 12, 2012 Y-Me closed its door due to a serious cash flow and lack of funding. Most of you are aware that Y-Me has been around for over 30 years providing support to breast cancer patients and their caregivers. It’s an organization that was born in the Chicago area and grew nationwide. I became connected to Y-Me back in 2002 when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer. I was looking for a place to “give back” to since I was lucky enough to have a great support system from my family and friends. My first volunteer assignment was as a greeter for their annual Fashion Show and Luncheon. From there, because I was writing for magazines at that time I helped write articles for their quarterly newsletter. That somehow gave me enough exposure to be asked to chair a committee for the fashion show the following year. From there I was asked to serve on the Board of Directors until suddenly the Chicago affiliate office was closed. All along the annual golf outing we organized donated all the proceeds which in 8 years totaled over $60,000. Now, poof, it’s all gone - a victim of the economy. What still stands is the memories and all the wonderful people I have met over the last ten years. It was like a special club, a sisterhood that only we knew what the other was going through because we had all gone through it ourselves. Yes, it’s been a sad week.


But as we all know things change and life goes on. So what’s next? For our golf outing we have researched and have chosen Gilda’s Club as our beneficiary. Gilda’s Club was started when Gilda Radner (of the Saturday Night Live fame) died from ovarian cancer and her husband (comedian Gene Wilder) started a place where women could go and find support. The first club opened in NYC in 1995 with Chicago’s club opening in 1998. Originally started as a support group for those with ovarian cancer, Gilda’s Club now welcomes men, women and children with any form of cancer. Of course our main focus will still be breast cancer it’s nice to have an organization that supports other cancers since many of our family members have died from other forms.

As the saying goes….”as one door closes, another door opens”. We look forward to a long relationship with Gilda’s Club and wish the best to our friends at Y-Me as well as the women they were helping.

Keep on Dancin’ my friends