Gilda’s Club hosting screening of movie on breast cancer
Screening followed by discussion with directors
Gilda’s Club South Florida will host a free screening on Nov. 23 of Ginger, a movie about a young woman’s experiences with breast cancer.
The movie is inspired by co-director Melissa Boratyn’s life and her diagnosis of breast cancer at age 23. The screening is open to young women and family members who have been impacted by breast cancer. It will be followed by a question and answer session Boratyn and her co-director and husband, Jimmy Boratyn.
“People have different experiences with cancer depending on their age,” said Associate Professor Jessica Valenzuela, Ph.D., of the College of Psychology’s Department of Clinical and School Psychology. “It’s not as common for young people to have that diagnosis, so it can be isolating.”
Valenzuela has partnered for several years with the South Florida chapter of the nonprofit organization named for comedian and actress Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer in 1989. The South Florida chapter offers multiple free programs and support groups for people with cancer and their families. Some of the services include yoga, social activities, and support groups for children who have cancer or whose parents have cancer.
Valenzuela said clinical psychology students have worked with clients at Gilda’s Club, and several have been hired by the organization. The services offered by Gilda’s Club took on a different meaning for Valenzuela as she faced treatment herself for breast cancer.
“It allowed me to connect with other people who were going through the same thing as I was in treatment,” she said.
Valenzuela supports the screening and wants young people experiencing cancer to know that they are not alone.
“It’s important to give them support and give back to the community,” she said.
The event runs from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM Nov. 23 at Savor Cinema Fort Lauderdale, located at 503 SW 3 St. To RSVP, visit www.bit.ly/GingerMovie.