When late-comedian Gilda Radner was diagnosed with cancer she had but one wish, to create a community for people, their families and friends suffering from the deadly disease. This facility would bring those people together and offer them a place where they could receive help and inspiration.

That dream is alive and well and right here in our back yard. The Gilda's Club of South Jersey, a free cancer-support community, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, May 15, 2002, to officially dedicate this "home away from home" for cancer patients.

Funded by the Ruth Newman Shapiro Cancer and Heart Fund, Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, AARP and the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University, the Gilda's Club is a 4,400-square-foot Universal Design Demonstration Home, located at 602 N. North Carolina Avenue just off of Route 30. The facility also will act as the 2002 Ruth Newman Shapiro Cancer and Heart Fund Showhouse at the Shore and is scheduled to officially open in November 2002.

Membership to the club is free to cancer patients and their family members. A wide variety of programs will be offered to members, such as wellness groups, workshops, lectures, stress management and many social activities too.

One of the most special and unique programs of the Gilda's Club is Noogieland. Noogieland is a special playroom specifically designed for children with cancer or for those children whose family members have cancer. This program ensures that everyone receives emotional and social support. With no hospital beds or treatment rooms, Noogieland is a playroom and clubhouse loaded with fun activities for kids of all ages.

Some of the house's special features, include a home elevator, flexible kitchen designs complete with a sink that raises and lowers with the touch of a button, stepless entryways for easy access and many other features that are meant to make life simpler and easier. An impressive list of dignitaries on hand, included CRDA Chairman Edward Gant; Senator William Gormley; Associate NJ State Director AARP Lynette Lee-Villanueva; Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford; 2nd Ward Councilman Robert Johnson; and Universal Design Consultant Leon Harper. "This is a renaissance and it represents the rebirth of a neighborhood," Mayor Langford said. "The Gilda's Club will continue to reshape the image of Atlantic City."