Ruth Spalding’s kindness was honored at a recent gala
Credit: WCVB Channel 5 Boston
NEED TO KNOW
- Ruth Spalding has anonymously sent flowers to breast cancer patients for over a decade through the Ellie Fund
- Because of Spalding’s generosity, the Ellie Fund decided to unveil her identity as the secret donor at their annual gala
- The Ellie Fund provides free support to breast cancer patients, including groceries, child care and transportation
A breast cancer survivor in Boston is using flowers to spread joy to others encountering the same diagnosis.
Ruth “Chip” Spalding received a flower delivery when she was going through her cancer treatments 20 years ago — and it inspired her to pay the same kindness forward to others.
“ ‘This is a surprise, are these for me?’ ” she recalled to WCVB about feeling “fabulous” after getting her delivery. “And he said, ‘Yes,’ and I'll just never ever forget that day.”
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For over a decade, Spalding has paid for anonymous flower deliveries through the Ellie Fund to make cancer patients feel cared for.
The Ellie Fund is a charity organization that gives free support to breast cancer patients in Massachusetts, including by providing groceries, child care, transportation and ways to make their daily lives easier.
"It really is a very authentic way to say, 'You're here, and we see you, and we know that you're struggling and you're not alone,' " Ellie Fund's Executive Director Meredith Mendelson said about Spalding's flower gifts.
Spalding added, "And the card reads, 'Nothing like flowers when you least expect them. From, a friend of the Ellie Fund.' "
Because of Spalding's generosity, the Ellie Fund decided to unveil her identity as the secret donor at their annual gala on March 15.
"It means to me that everybody understands how breast cancer upends somebody's life," Mendelson said about the 30th annual gala, which honored patients and their families. "They understand that it's not just a physical toll, it's a mental toll and an emotional toll. People are investing in us because they believe that the Ellie Fund has what it takes to take care of patients when they're on this difficult journey."
Spalding added, getting emotional about the flowers other patients gave her at the gala, "I never thought about any sort of an impact, and last night it was very obvious.”
The Ellie Fund has partnered with Winston Flowers to create a special fund in Spalding's honor that would give even more patients flowers during their treatments.
Spalding said, "It makes people happy, and they remember the day. It's just a lift — you could say it’s a breath of fresh air."
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