Joy Bush, the executive director of Gilda’s Club Quad Cities, announces the group’s expansion across Iowa and its new name at a news conference Friday, June 28, at Genesis Medical Center, West Campus, Davenport. CREDIT JENNIFER DEWITT
Gilda’s Club Quad Cities is expanding its cancer support services across Iowa and adopting a new name that clearly states its mission, its work and its broader reach. At a news conference on Friday, June 28, Gilda’s Club QC Executive Director Joy Bush announced that the local club will make its no-cost services available statewide […]
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Gilda's Club Quad Cities is expanding its cancer support services across Iowa and adopting a new name that clearly states its mission, its work and its broader reach. At a news conference on Friday, June 28, Gilda’s Club QC Executive Director Joy Bush announced that the local club will make its no-cost services available statewide to those impacted by a cancer diagnosis. Joy Bush, executive director of the renamed Cancer Support Community Iowa and NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club, stands in the new Wig Resource Room at the Gilda’s Clubhouse at Genesis Medical Center, West Campus, in Davenport. CREDIT JENNIFER DEWITT“We want to make sure that no one faces cancer alone,” she told reporters gathered at Gilda’s Davenport clubhouse at Genesis Medical Center, West Campus. Ms. Bush said the Quad Cities-based Gilda’s now will be known as Cancer Support Community Iowa and NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club. “Our current name, Gilda’s Club Quad Cities, no longer reflects our reach,” she said, adding that the new name more accurately represents the broad range of services and its wider geographic reach. “It improves our visibility and accessibility to those in need helping potential members, health care providers and supporters easily identify our organization and what support we offer,” she said. “It also honors our legacy while looking forward. We value the legacy of Gilda Radner and the foundation she inspired and it will always be and continue to be part of our story.” In fact, the expansion was revealed on what now is observed as Community Is Stronger Than Cancer Day and what would have been the late comedian’s 78th birthday. The first cast member hired for the television show Saturday Night Live, Ms. Radner died of ovarian cancer on May 20, 1989. “We’re so grateful for her and her raising awareness of the need of social and emotional support to be available at no charge to anyone impacted by cancer no matter where they lived,” Ms. Bush said.She explained how Ms. Radner found emotional and social support during her cancer battle at The Wellness Community in California, which now is known as Cancer Support Community. At the time, Ms. Bush said those support services she received were only available in Los Angeles. “She had a vision of services like those that she attended to be available anywhere across the U.S.,” she added. Today, Gilda’s Club QC is an affiliate of Cancer Support Community, a network of 196 locations worldwide. “Sadly, not every city or every state has access to Gilda’s Club or Cancer Support Community,” Ms. Bush told reporters. Currently, she said Gilda’s Club QC’s service area included 13 Iowa counties and eight Illinois counties surrounding the Quad Cities region. “Despite being one of the smallest communities to support such an organization, the Quad Cities has shown incredible support making our services available to anyone in our community impacted by cancer.”Thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Iowa Cancer Consortium, the Cancer Support Community Iowa and NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club will extend its menu of services, support and its cancer community to Iowans in all 99 counties.“The grant empowers us to potentially lead more research and raise the program’s awareness statewide,” Ms. Bush said.Citing the Iowa Cancer Registry’s 2024 report, she added that the expansion is crucial as Iowa is the second-leading state with cancer incidents. A total of 21,000 new cases of invasive cancer are projected in 2024. In addition, as advances in screening and treatment improve, the state also has more survivors living within its borders – with an estimated 168,610 cancer survivors now in Iowa. With the consortium’s grant funding, Ms. Bush said Gilda’s will initially be expanding its support services virtually to cancer patients and others impacted by the diagnosis. The grant will allow it to provide two weekly support groups – one for cancer patients and one for their families and caregivers – as well as monthly educational workshops. The expansion will provide anyone in Iowa with access to its virtual services at no cost, including those in rural communities who face barriers to access, Ms. Bush said. In addition, Gilda’s Club will be collaborating with 10 hospitals and cancer centers in five Iowa cities to raise awareness of its support including in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls/Waterloo and Des Moines. The goal is for virtual services to begin Sept. 1. As awareness grows, it expects to provide direct, in-person programs in cities across the state like those now available in the Quad Cities.The organization will continue to have its QC presence which includes its two clubhouses at Genesis West Campus and at UnityPoint Health - Trinity, Moline. Ms. Bush stressed that the expansion will not change the service Quad Citians receive. “Our beloved Gilda’s Club Quad Cities experience remains the same.” The expansion will add two new part-time employees, who will facilitate the support services. Eventually, Ms. Bush said the hope is to add satellite offices and partner with additional hospitals and cancer centers. She estimated that initially the Cancer Support Community will serve an additional 200 Iowans the first year. In 2023, she said the QC operations served a total of 807 people with its programming. Among its support groups are ones dedicated to the cancer patients themselves, their friends and families, and couples. It also offers educational workshops – including healthy lifestyle and cancer management workshops – and social events. “Our goal is to always serve as many as possible,” Ms. Bush said. While the statewide expansion will begin with virtual resources, one day there could be future Cancer Support Community clubhouses like the two in the Quad Cities. “It’s really inspiring,” she said of the growth Gilda’s QC has seen since leaving its historic mansion location on Davenport’s riverfront and moving into the two regional hospitals and near their respective cancer centers. “We’ve seen a 61% increase in visitors. People walk in here everyday who might not have found us on River Drive,” she said. Gilda's Club Quad Cities, along with its Cancer Support Community partners, works to uplift and strengthen patients and families impacted by cancer by providing support, fostering compassionate communities, and breaking down barriers to care. The Gilda’s Club Mission exists to provide that same support for others living with cancer and for their families and friends. The first Gilda’s Club opened its signature red door in New York City in 1995.
She explained how Ms. Radner found emotional and social support during her cancer battle at The Wellness Community in California, which now is known as Cancer Support Community. At the time, Ms. Bush said those support services she received were only available in Los Angeles. “She had a vision of services like those that she attended to be available anywhere across the U.S.,” she added.
Today, Gilda’s Club QC is an affiliate of Cancer Support Community, a network of 196 locations worldwide.
“Sadly, not every city or every state has access to Gilda’s Club or Cancer Support Community,” Ms. Bush told reporters.
Currently, she said Gilda’s Club QC’s service area included 13 Iowa counties and eight Illinois counties surrounding the Quad Cities region.
“Despite being one of the smallest communities to support such an organization, the Quad Cities has shown incredible support making our services available to anyone in our community impacted by cancer.”
Thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Iowa Cancer Consortium, the Cancer Support Community Iowa and NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club will extend its menu of services, support and its cancer community to Iowans in all 99 counties.
“The grant empowers us to potentially lead more research and raise the program’s awareness statewide,” Ms. Bush said.
Citing the Iowa Cancer Registry’s 2024 report, she added that the expansion is crucial as Iowa is the second-leading state with cancer incidents. A total of 21,000 new cases of invasive cancer are projected in 2024.
In addition, as advances in screening and treatment improve, the state also has more survivors living within its borders – with an estimated 168,610 cancer survivors now in Iowa.
With the consortium’s grant funding, Ms. Bush said Gilda’s will initially be expanding its support services virtually to cancer patients and others impacted by the diagnosis. The grant will allow it to provide two weekly support groups – one for cancer patients and one for their families and caregivers – as well as monthly educational workshops.
The expansion will provide anyone in Iowa with access to its virtual services at no cost, including those in rural communities who face barriers to access, Ms. Bush said.
In addition, Gilda’s Club will be collaborating with 10 hospitals and cancer centers in five Iowa cities to raise awareness of its support including in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls/Waterloo and Des Moines. The goal is for virtual services to begin Sept. 1.
As awareness grows, it expects to provide direct, in-person programs in cities across the state like those now available in the Quad Cities.
The organization will continue to have its QC presence which includes its two clubhouses at Genesis West Campus and at UnityPoint Health - Trinity, Moline. Ms. Bush stressed that the expansion will not change the service Quad Citians receive. “Our beloved Gilda’s Club Quad Cities experience remains the same.”
The expansion will add two new part-time employees, who will facilitate the support services. Eventually, Ms. Bush said the hope is to add satellite offices and partner with additional hospitals and cancer centers.
She estimated that initially the Cancer Support Community will serve an additional 200 Iowans the first year. In 2023, she said the QC operations served a total of 807 people with its programming. Among its support groups are ones dedicated to the cancer patients themselves, their friends and families, and couples. It also offers educational workshops – including healthy lifestyle and cancer management workshops – and social events.
“Our goal is to always serve as many as possible,” Ms. Bush said.
While the statewide expansion will begin with virtual resources, one day there could be future Cancer Support Community clubhouses like the two in the Quad Cities.
“It’s really inspiring,” she said of the growth Gilda’s QC has seen since leaving its historic mansion location on Davenport’s riverfront and moving into the two regional hospitals and near their respective cancer centers.
“We’ve seen a 61% increase in visitors. People walk in here everyday who might not have found us on River Drive,” she said.
Gilda's Club Quad Cities, along with its Cancer Support Community partners, works to uplift and strengthen patients and families impacted by cancer by providing support, fostering compassionate communities, and breaking down barriers to care.
The Gilda’s Club Mission exists to provide that same support for others living with cancer and for their families and friends. The first Gilda’s Club opened its signature red door in New York City in 1995. 
