Life is full of heartache and if you don’t have humor, it’s very hard.   Have a belly laugh once a day!  -Ruth “Chip”Spaulding

Twenty years ago, in the middle of 8 rounds of chemotherapy and 35 radiation treatments for stage 2 breast cancer, Ruth“Chip” Spaulding opened the door to find a delivery of flowers. That single act of kindness took root inside of her, and bloomed into a legacy of hope.  Chip began searching for a local non-profit that shared her passion for patient care and ended up connecting with The Ellie Fund elliefund.org.  Says Chip:   “I was just the fuel.  I provided the money.  The Ellie Fund was the engine.”   2,000 bouquets of flowers have been delivered to grateful breast cancer patients (includingme) and now, Chip is taking her act of kindness one step further by establishing the Ruth “Chip” Spaulding Flower Endowment Fund which will ensure flowers are delivered to breast cancer patients even after Chip has left this earth.   Born and raised in Dedham, Massachusetts by kind-hearted, civic-minded parents, Chip spent her early career working for a congressman on Capital Hill.  The mother of two, she was diagnosed in her 50’s and recalls looking at herself in the mirror saying: “You have breast cancer and you are lucky they found it. Get on with it.”  How did breast cancer change this wise, no-nonsense woman?   “The blue became bluer, the green became greener, and I began practicing the 3 C’s:   anti-clutter, anti-complaining and cut to the chase.”   For 25 minutes of inspiration + wisdom + kindness, just hit that download button.   #breastcancer #kindness #hope #flowers