CancerPartners ceasing operations by end of February

CancerPartners will cease operations in February, the non-profit announced in an email to its supporters Friday.

The organization was founded as Gilda’s Club in the Desert, first opening its doors in Cathedral City in November 2004. In 2013, Gilda’s Club relocated to Palm Desert, and in 2017, its name was changed to CancerPartners.

Operations will cease on or before February 28, 2019.

NewsChannel 3 dug into financial documents which show expenses exceeding revenues in the 2017-2018 budget year by $248,724.

Read CancerPartners annual report

“From the beginning, the ‘clubhouse’ was the nurturing, homelike environment where everyone impacted by cancer–men, women, children, teens, as well as their loved ones–received the educational and emotional support deemed by the Institute of Medicine to be as important in cancer care as medical treatment,” read the email to supporters. “The professionally led support groups, medical lectures and workshops, healthy lifestyle classes and social events were provided at no cost to participants, ensuring that all could benefit from the program, regardless of their financial situation.”

CancerPartners also sent out similar messages on its website and Facebook page shortly after the email was sent out.

In the letter, the non-profit informed its supporters that several other healthcare organizations in the Coachella Valley are now offering similar services and that they will refer CancerPartners program participants to said organizations.

“The Board thanks the approximately 3,400 cancer patients, survivors, and caring family members per year who have allowed CancerPartners to support them on their cancer journey,” the letter closes. “It has been a privilege and an honor to be of service.”

Watch News Channel 3 at 6 PM for Sarah Trott’s full report on the non-profit’s closure.