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Hello Everyone,

welcome to another day that the Lord has made.

I must start out by introducing myself. I AM Darlene Crowley and I come before you, a walking, talking, breathing miracle of our times.

I am what you often hear as the face and epitome of cancer, and by the grace of God, and His grace only, I am here to share with you the importance of awareness, along with what I consider as the essence of "community", and where you can find it! Gilda's Club.

As we all know, cancer has no prejudice. It attacks all ages, ethnic groups, men and women. Yet the survival rate for African American women with breast cancer is 3 times less than any other ethnic group. Why is this? Well amongst other reasons, we're not getting screened soon enough, if at all.

I grew up hearing, "I don't have money to go to the doctor", "I don't have insurance", "I don't want to know if there's anything there", and my grandmother's favorite, "If you find something, I'm not going to let you operate anyway". As Mr. Thomas Lawrence says, "Excuses are the tools of the incompetent" and this mindset must change!! We can't let fear run our lives any longer. Its detrimental to our health. Our very existence relies upon the mobility of our minds! We must challenge the pessimistic peabody, and grab hold to optimism! Again, we must be open to change, because after all, this is our lives we're talking about here.

As I mentioned before, I am a cancer patient, And I'm walkin what I'm talkin! My story can be seen on the "My Testimonial" page.

Not long after my hospice stay I met the program director of Gilda's Club, Ms. Susan Mingesz, at the 1st Annual educational forum for the Sankofa Project, which is another entity that's trying to bring help and awareness to the disparity of our african american community.

Ms. Mingesz approached me, out of a room of over 300 people and extended the love that Gilda's is known for. Gilda's Club is what, Khadijah, a friend of mine calls, a "Love House", where your own diagnosis of cancer, or your being a friend or family member of a cancer patient, is your only membership fee.

A home away from home, Gilda's Club is a place to go when the outside world just seems unbearable. Where you can leave your burdens at the "Red Door" and step into a safe haven of peace and laughter, in the midst of the storm. Allow Gilda's to become your "safe place" so to speak.

Our members are loving and are like family from the first day you walk in, welcoming everyone with open arms. Because, when cancer sneaks its way into our lives, whether its you, a friend, or family member, I don't think anyone would disagree that love, comfort, and support is so important at that time. And you're guaranteed to find that, and much more at Gilda's Club. I know I have, and so, I must pass it on

GOD BLESS YOU!