Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club has launched a new partnership with local veterans organizations to provide emotional support programs for veterans with cancer. The announcement was made on November 15 in collaboration with Monroe County Veterans Service Agency Director, Nicholas Stefanovic, Veterans Outreach Center Executive Director, Laura Stradley, and special guest, Stephanie Beikirch, daughter of Medal of Honor recipient, Gary Beikirch.
“We are excited about our partnership with Monroe County Veterans ServiceAgency and the Veterans Outreach Center and being able to provide military men and women with support programs that may be the crutch that is much needed in their lives,” stated Jim Love, Chief Executive Offer, Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club.
Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club will hold their first Veterans with Cancer Support Group on November 29 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at their facility located at 255 Alexander Street, Rochester. Future support groups will then be offered every second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Love stated, “We found, in talking with local veterans organizations, that there was a gap in service to support military personnel dealing with a cancer diagnosis,” Love added that the closest support group for veterans with cancer was in New York City, further confirming the definite gap in support services provided locally.
“The need is an understatement when it comes to this for the veteran community,” stated Nick Stefanovic, Monroe County Veterans Service Agency Director. Stefanovic added, “A bulk of the most significant claims that we do are for cancer…every single day.”
Laura Stradley, Veterans Outreach Center Executive Director stated, “Veterans face cancer at extremely high rates. Peer support is absolutely critical in situations like this.”
Stephanie Beikirch, daughter of Medal of Honor Recipient Gary Beikirch, shared the story of her father’s cancer battle and how important it was to be able to connect with peers. She remarked, “The strength we gain from community and others is what got us through some of the toughest days. It showed us that we need each other. That’s what these support groups will do for our vets.”
The agency leaders shared that the partnership between Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club, the Monroe County Veterans Service Agency and Veterans Outreach Center is vitally important and a critical pathway to connecting veterans with support services that are accessible, welcoming, and offered at no cost.
For more information on the Veterans Cancer Support Group or on any of the support programs offered at Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club, contact Angela Gonnella, LMSW, Director of Clinical and Support Services, at 585-423-9700 x304 or visit the organization’s website at http://www.cscrochester.org
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