2006 Gildas Gang – Dr. Gail Addlestone and Danielle Gilbert

2nd Annual Gilda’s Gang 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run Slated for April 2 at East Nashville’s Shelby Park

Gilda’s Gang 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run is an untimed, all-ages, all-abilities fundraising and community building event held at Shelby Park (aka Shelby Bottoms) in East Nashville on Saturday, April 2, 2022.

• “Doors” open at 7:30 AM
• 5K begins at 8:00 AM (untimed)
• 1-Mile Fun Run begins at 8:30 AM (untimed)
• Post-run fun until 10:30 AM

Gilda’s Gang 5K and 1-Mile Family Fun Run is named in honor of Dr. Gail Addlestone, a long-time Gilda’s Club volunteer and staff member who established a half-marathon training program and fundraiser – dubbed “Gilda’s Gang” – that raised more than $1.3 million for Gilda’s Club between 2006 and 2017. Despite losing Gail to metastatic breast cancer in 2007, her legacy of service, hard work and determination lives on through events like this one.

ABOUT DR. GAIL ADDLESTONE AND GILDA’S GANG

During her lifetime, Dr. Gail Addlestone was many things to many people…a daughter, wife, mother, friend, and trusted pediatrician. For those of us at Gilda’s Club, Gail was each of these things, however, she still managed to be more.

Gail first became involved with Gilda’s Club as a volunteer. Having lost her own mom to ovarian cancer, she was passionate about our mission from the very start. Then, just a couple of years later, Gail was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.

As Gail endured surgery, chemo, radiation, and more, she took on her second role at Gilda’s Club: Member. Gailparticipated in our weekly Moms Support Group and opened the door for us to serve her father, husband, daughter, and friends.

Sadly, Gail soon had to stop practicing medicine. At this time, she changed roles yet again and became a part of our staff, serving in a way that combined her two passions: exercise during cancer treatment and supporting Gilda’s Club.

While Gail accomplished much while working for Gilda’s Club, she is perhaps best known for establishing what would later become Gilda’s Gang – a half-marathon training program and fundraiser that raised more than $1.3 million for Gilda’s Club between 2006 and 2017.

Since her death in 2007, Gail’s legacy has been recognized by Gilda’s Club in several ways. Gilda’s Gang was named in her honor, and she was celebrated posthumously with the Nancy Saturn Award of Inspiration in 2011. Additionally, the Dr. Gail Addlestone Community Building Award was created in 2018 and is presented annually.

The 2nd Annual Gilda’s Gang 5K is being generously supported by media from the East Nashvillian, as well as support from Caffé Nonna, and Run Nash.

ABOUT GILDA’S CLUB MIDDLE TENNESSEE

Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee, an affiliate of the Cancer Support Community, is dedicated to providing support, education, and hope to all people impacted by cancer, including those diagnosed and family and friends.

Free of charge to everyone – thanks to our generous donors – Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee’s evidence-based program for adults, teens, children, and families includes support groups, health and nutrition coaching, healthy lifestyle workshops, mind-body classes, social activities, educational lectures, and community resource information. Offering approximately 70 professionally-led support and networking groups, and more than 80 educational workshops and lectures each month – either online or from our midtown Nashville location, Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee is able to make a tangible difference in the lives of those impacted by cancer. We build community, so no one faces cancer alone.