Noogieland (What's that?)

Noogieland, named after the "Noogies" that Bill Murray gave to Gilda Radner on Saturday Night Live, is the wonderful play area and meeting space for children touched by cancer.

Through its unique Children and Teen Program, Gilda's Club Desert Cities provides a free place for children and teenagers living with all types of cancer, and their families and friends.  Gilda's Club makes sure that everyone in the family receives free psychosocial cancer support.

Noogieland is a special place where children and teens can learn, play, care and share with others whose families have been touched by cancer, all the while supported by our professional staff and volunteers.

Click on Gilda below to see our Noogieland Hours!

Children & Teens

• Small Talk

  :  Talking time and fun, along with support, for kids ages 5-12 who have been touched by cancer.

• Teen Time

  :  An opportunity for teens to explore their cancer experience.  Open to all teens touched by cancer, either through a personal diagnosis or that of a loved one.

• Noogie Nights

  :  Supervised fun for children while their family members attend activities and support groups.

• Grief & Loss Groups

  :  Groups for children and teens who have had a family member or friend die from cancer.

• Noogie Fest

  :  An annual Halloween party for children and their families.

• Teen Volunteers

  :  For teens who whould like to volunteer in the clubhouse or work with children in Noogieland.

Parents & Families

• Parenting Groups

  :  For parents who are living with cancer or who have a child living with cancer.

• Family Focus

  :  An opportunity for the whole family to meet with our professional staff to work through emotional issues and improve communication.

• Team Convene

  :  Helps you gather your own personal support group - friends, neighbors, colleagues, relatives - to manage practical everyday matters, such as getting a ride to treatment, or preparing family meals.

• Lectures & Workshops:

    Education and information for families.

• Social Events

  :  Potluck suppers, seasonal parties, and activities for the whole family.

How to Join

Call the Gilda's Club Desert Cities clubhouse to talk with the Noogieland Program Manager, arrange for a family tour, learn more about the Children & Teen program, or to sign up for a New Member Meeting, call (760) 770-5678.

As a member of our Teen Program, Rachel Preston, wrote the following poem which expresses her feelings about Noogieland:

Kids Like Me

September 25, 2005

Everything was very normal

I fit in very well

my life was going great

and everyone could tell

Then one day it came

one humid, rainy morning

it flipped my world around

without a prior warning

From then on I wore a mask

no one knew what was inside

I hid all my emotions

for nobody to find

My mother was very ill

she had cancer, you see

so I locked up my true self

and threw away the key

No one understood me

I was all alone

until someone introduced

a home away from home

I was with kids like me

they were going through the same

I would talk and they would listen

knowing it wasn’t just a game

Every Tuesday evening

we’d meet to talk and play

we understood each other

and this is why I say

Noogie Nights have meant to me

more than I can say

they gave me everything

that I had thrown away

                                                                             Rachael Preston.

The construction and furnishing of our Noogieland Children's Playroom
was sponsored by a grant from the Toys R Us Children's Fund.

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