“Raising the Roof”, funded by the Prevent Cancer Foundation, is a new project undertaken by Gilda’s Club South Florida to address breast cancer disparity among women of color. Targeted outreach and breast health education lectures will help spread the word across the community. Recently, Gilda’s raised the roof at a luncheon hosted by the North Broward County Chapter of Links Incorporated. The 200 women and men in attendance learned about breast cancer support for not only women of African-American decent but for their entire family and friends as well.
Gilda’s Club has enlisted the help of many professionals in our tri-county area to offer free educational seminars which include various aspects of preventative care as well as other breast cancer specific lectures. Topics to be presented over the next year will include genetics, treatment and post treatment options, sexuality and breast cancer and psychosocial issues.
Cultivating open dialogues and providing resources to women of color through projects like “Raising the Roof” is vital to reducing breast cancer disparity. The value of a program such as this was evident when at the conclusion of the recent luncheon a member of the audience approached the speaker and explained that she was in fear of being re-diagnosed with breast cancer. She had not realized the free resources available to her including ongoing support groups and educational seminars. She also explained that until that day she had not spoken about her cancer to anyone including her friends that attended the luncheon with her. However, she now felt that she could share this with them and hoped to gain their support as well. She also planned to attend other programs through Gilda’s Club and to no longer be alone in her cancer journey.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation is proud to support the valuable work of Gilda’s Club South Florida. Read more about the 2011 grantees.
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