Cancer Support Community

Becky Franks

The Wellness Community has been in the Gallatin Valley for many years as we provide services for people affected by cancer. Our services include support groups, education, yoga, Qi Gong, art therapy and other events. All of our services are free of charge. Through the generosity of many financial and service donors, we have purchased the old Advanced Eyecare building and moved into our new digs! This project has truly been a community event and could not have been possible without the financial contributions from many donors. In addition, all our supplies and services for the remodel were donated or partially donated. We are truly grateful for the generosity of our community!!
Along with the move to our beautiful new building at 102 So. 11th Ave, we are excited to announce that we have changed our name to “Cancer Support Community.” Remember Gilda Radner from Saturday Night Live? She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the early 1980’s and later died of the disease. As a consistent participant of the original Wellness Community, her passion carried forward after her passing when her friends and family opened a similar support center called “Gilda’s Club.” Over time, both services grew and then developed 25 Wellness Communities and 20 Gilda’s Clubs. For many years, the two talked about merging, and now they have finalized plans to become one combined organization— “Cancer Support Community.” The Cancer Support Community will be the largest provider of professionally-led network of cancer support worldwide, and will continue to meet the needs of people touched by cancer by offering innovative, researched, and comprehensive support programs.
Our common history and commitment to the cancer community is what brought us together. What has been created is a larger, stronger, and more global network that will bring the highest quality cancer support to the millions of people who are touched by cancer. Our center here in Bozeman is proud to be part of this new organization and will continue to help people improve their quality of life by empowering them to identify and address their individual needs, and to connect them to supportive communities.
This new organization brings more than 50 global affiliates together to ensure no one faces cancer alone. You will now see the new logo and name in place of the old, but rest assured, we are still going to provide programs to people affected by cancer free of charge. We will continue to run as a local non-profit and donations will be used right here for our community members. So, along with the exciting move into our new home, please look for our new logo shown proudly on the sign outside.
The Cancer Support Community will hold an open house for the public on Friday, March 12 from 5:00-6:30pm. Everyone is welcome! Also, if you are interested in donating to this incredible project, we are “registered” at Bed, Bath and Beyond on North 19th Ave, and Hey Day Downtown Bozeman.