Gilda's Club Chicago

08/23/2026

🌟 Exciting Announcement! 🌟

We are thrilled to once again partner with local cancer support organizations to provide Brave Boxes during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September. 🎗️ These boxes are designed to bring joy and fun to children living with cancer and their siblings. Brave Boxes will include various comfort items like journals, bubbles, puzzles, fidgets, and more!

If you're interested in a Brave Box for your child(ren) ages 6-13, please complete the registration form here: https://buff.ly/Q76XiTF

Registration opens Monday, August 24 at 10am. Only 300 kits are available, so be sure to register ASAP!

A heartfelt thank you to all the partner organizations committed to serving families impacted by childhood cancer in the Chicagoland area. We are proud to be a part of this amazing group! 💛

08/20/2026

Help shape a new program at Gilda’s Club Chicago! ❤️

Have you experienced cancer-related pain? We want to hear from you.

Gilda’s Club Chicago is partnering with Niki Sabetfakhri, an MD/PhD student at UIC and Schweitzer Fellow, to explore new programming focused on cancer-related pain, including education, self-advocacy, community connection, and opportunities to share lived experiences.

The project is particularly interested in understanding the experiences of women, whose pain has historically been more likely to be dismissed, misunderstood, or undertreated. However, the survey is open to anyone in the Gilda’s Club community who feels connected to this topic.

The survey is anonymous, optional, and takes just 3–5 minutes to complete. Your feedback will help Niki develop programming informed by the experiences and needs of our community.

👉 Take the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdbo1Y7kDd-N9TVx2QN5kBUBAy9S9ybPq_rnOmERu6eNtOnEw/viewform?usp=publish-editor

You may already know Niki from GCC! She leads Gentle Yoga on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 4 p.m., both at the Downtown Clubhouse and virtually via Zoom.

08/18/2026

A great night with Team Gilda! 👟

A huge thank you to Fleet Feet Chicago and Karhu for hosting a special outing for our Bank of America Chicago Marathon Team Gilda runners!

The evening kicked off with a fun run, followed by refreshments, a shoe demo from Karhu, and a private shopping event at Fleet Feet Lincoln Square.

We’re so grateful to our partners for supporting Team Gilda and helping our runners feel ready, connected, and excited as they continue training for race day on October 11.

And of course, a huge shoutout to our Team Gilda runners for putting in the miles and raising critical funds to support people impacted by cancer. ❤️

08/14/2026

And the winner is……..

Congrats to Team Gilda member, Nate Post, who won our Shokz Opendots 2 raffle! For every $200 raised in the last month, members of the team received a raffle entry. The team stepped it up in a big way by raising over $30,000 towards GCC programs 🎉🎉

Let’s give all our Team Gilda runners a huge round of applause and keep cheering them on as they keep training for the Chicago Marathon on October 11!

08/14/2026

🎨🐾 JUST ADDED! Painting Your Pet’s Portrait

Grab a paintbrush and celebrate your favorite furry, feathered, or four-legged friend!

Join art therapist Sophie for a fun, guided painting session where you’ll turn a favorite photo of your pet or another beloved animal into your very own work of art. No painting experience needed. Sophie will provide all the materials, tips, and guidance you need to get creative.

Wednesday, August 26 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM | Downtown Clubhouse (537 N Wells)

Bring a photo of your pet to use as inspiration. Don’t have a pet? We’ll have photos of Sherman, GCC’s beloved therapy dog, ready for his portrait debut.

As always, this program is FREE for anyone impacted by cancer.

Register today: https://buff.ly/moeMvPW

08/13/2026

One week ago, members of the GCC team attended one of the most glamorous, hilarious, emotional, and inspiring events: The Max Gala.

Max Garland passed away at 36 from a rare blood cancer, leaving behind adoring family, friends, and his husband, Matt. "Max was unabashedly himself, inspiring countless people in the q***r community and beyond to live more authentically. Even in the darkest depths of his cancer treatment, Max never stopped finding and creating beauty."

In the throes of grief after Max's passing, Matt found his way to Gilda's Club, where he discovered that he wasn't alone. When Matt and his sister, Ashley, founded The Max Garland Fund, they knew they wanted to shine a light on those cancer leaves behind and fund a broad range of bereavement support.

Gilda's Club is honored to be the exclusive beneficiary of The Max Gala, and at this year's event, Matt made a special announcement about the future of our partnership. Be sure to watch the video!

08/08/2026

We love when local businesses support us! ❤️
Move-tastic!

💛 This week's Move Good, Do Good donation goes to Gilda's Club Chicago, an amazing organization that complements medical care with free programs, activities, and support for individuals and families impacted by cancer.

From virtual meetups to in-person events, Gilda's Club creates something we all need a little more of: community. ❤️

Because let's be honest—life is hard enough. Nobody should have to face a health challenge feeling alone.

We're proud to support an organization that helps people connect, laugh, learn, heal, and find support when they need it most.

And if you've ever attended one of their programs, you know the secret ingredient isn't just the programming—it's the people. 👏

Keep up the incredible work, Gilda's Club Chicago!

08/07/2026

We're excited to welcome Carrying Hope into the Gilda's Club Chicago community.

Imagine beginning chemotherapy and receiving a tote bag filled with thoughtful essentials and a handwritten note from someone wishing you strength. That simple act of kindness can make all the difference.

That's exactly what Carrying Hope has been doing throughout Chicagoland.

Founded and led by high school students, Carrying Hope has already delivered more than 4,000 care bags to patients receiving chemotherapy while inspiring students across our region to give back through compassion and service.

Together, we'll continue expanding opportunities to support individuals and families impacted by cancer and remind every person walking this journey that they are never alone.

Please join us in welcoming Carrying Hope to our community. 💛

08/04/2026

A few members of the Gilda’s Club team are off to Michigan this week for the 2026 Cancer Support Community Affiliate Leadership Conference!

First stop was visiting our friends at Gilda's Club Grand Rapids and touring their Clubhouse. They were truly the best hosts and we can’t wait to see what’s in store the rest of the week!

07/31/2026

💛It's Back!💛

Our annual Soulful Social: Soul of the Community returns on Saturday, September 19!

Join us as we celebrate the rich cultures, traditions, and stories that make our Gilda's Club Chicago community so special. Enjoy lunch, connect with fellow members, and, if you'd like, bring a favorite dish or dessert to share. We also invite you to wear a vibrant shirt that celebrates your culture!

Register today! https://buff.ly/wQnQCOH