Georgia became involved with Gilda’s Club Wisconsin around seven years ago. But, like many good stories, Georgia’s connection to Gilda’s goes all the way back to childhood. A few years ago, when she made the move to Madison from Green Bay, she connected with a childhood friend of hers.
That friend was Ginny Lee, longtime Gilda’s volunteer and Red Door Society member. Being a consummate Gilda’s Club advocate, Ginny told Georgia, “Well, then you’ve got to get involved with Gilda’s Club.”
“I wanted to do more”
Georgia started her volunteer journey at Gilda’s Run/Walk in 2019. After that experience, “I wanted to do more,” she shares, and she became a Gilda’s Club greeter. As greeter, she was at the clubhouse each week, helping to create a warm and welcoming environment for Gilda’s Club members.
She shares that one of the biggest things that appealed to her about volunteering at Gilda’s Club is that you can customize your involvement based on your own preferences. There is no “one size fits all” volunteer experience.
Paying it forward
Georgia decided to add on to her volunteerism by becoming a philanthropic supporter, and she decided to join the Red Door Society. One of the biggest reasons was her personal connection to cancer. She lost both of her parents to cancer, and later her husband.
“By joining the Red Door Society and giving some of my money to the community, I’m trying to pay back some of what I’ve received,” Georgia explains. “Anyone impacted by cancer knows it can take over your entire life.”
“I know that both my parents and my late husband would have approved of it tremendously,” Georgia continues.
Georgia, being a bit of a social butterfly, decided to also take Ginny’s advice to attend the Backyard BBQ. She invited a few of her friends to the Backyard BBQ in 2024, and had such a good time she decided to make it a tradition. She shares, “It was a chance for all of us to get together and it was a wonderful cause.”
So, starting in 2025, Georgia became a sponsor of the Backyard BBQ, creating a reason for her friends to gather while supporting a mission they deeply care about.
“It’s a joy to be able to share this with others”
When she isn’t spending her time volunteering or at the Backyard BBQ, Georgia spends as much time as she can with her kids, grandkids, and two-month-old great-grandchild. “I’m having a great time with a brand-new baby again,” she grins. She also spends her time reading, travelling, and spending time with her friends. Her “happy place” is spending time on the beach in Florida, where she now spends six months out of the year.
Why has Georgia stayed so involved with Gilda’s Club? “There’s even more need for the services,” she explains. “The need never goes away and it just gets bigger. So as long as I can keep being here, I will.”
Georgia is one more person who proves that community is stronger than cancer- a community which only exists because of people like her providing their support. “It’s an honor to be a part of this community,” Georgia shares. “You meet the kindest, most wonderful people. It’s a joy to be able to share this with others.”