Roberta Hershon & Laura Pica

" Good morning and welcome to exceptional women this is magic -- Terry. October is breast cancer awareness month so I are shining the spotlight on local heroes. Women who are making a difference in the fight against a disease that affects us all reverting -- on is one of these people she is the founder double local nonprofit called. Hope in bloom. Check them out right now hoping -- work. Now this volunteer organization plant gardens for free at the homes of breast cancer patients right here in Massachusetts and today. Roberta and her hundreds of volunteers have planted seventy gardens. The idea is so simple to give a woman the chance to see a thing of beauty. When she is recovering from a disease that affects so many more to see this beauty to cheer her. And she is dying this must be a powerful thing Roberta welcome to the show Hollywood inspired you to create hope in bloom."

" When I was seven and my friend Beverly Eisenberg was eight we met and we became lifelong friends from the day that we first that hello when she was 54 in 2004. She was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer -- fix -- person and all I wanted to do was make -- better but I couldn't do that I had to leave that for the doctors so what I could do was make sure that you -- fresh flowers in -- house we both loved to garden and every time I saw her I would bring her in new -- When it was warm I -- all of our friends and we kept her garden looking beautiful and after Beverly passed away I realized that I can do the same thing for someone else and cheered them up every time I saw her she brightened and it just gave her a little boost to get through the next treatment you know there's nothing like your girlfriend's. -- Dot org. How did you get people involved with your idea of the dream once it was born the first thing I did was -- all of the local."

" the bigger the better to see if they might be willing to provide -- wholesale pricing and once they realized that I was a nonprofit organization. And anything he -- was a tax deduction -- sort of jumped on -- some more than others and then I put -- a call to all of our friends to have them volunteered -- plants and I went to the American society -- landscape architects and -- everybody that I could find that was willing to -- for -- for free I spoke -- oncologists and -- garden clubs I spoke to women's groups I -- marketing material and we sent it -- to all of the oncology centers and -- demography centers and just waited to see what would happen and the floodgates."

" Opened well the statistics are still not good despite the fact we've made so many advances in the fight against breast cancer one in eight women still will hear the words you have breast cancer and I know you've got lots of stories reverted to tell -- tell me how your gardens are received by the women who need them so badly the Massachusetts actually has the third highest incidence of breast cancer in the country at the statistic that we're not proud of that we do have it. Everyone who has received a garden for months says this is something I could never done for myself it's beyond my wildest dreams think Q thank you thank you because not only does -- help the person who's -- it also helps their caregivers. It's a place to go to escape from doctors hospitals. Treatment -- and just the daily grind of going through breast cancer for those people who don't have outside states -- provide indoor gardens as well as patio gardens so into the gardens are available year -- while obviously patio gardens and in -- cards as seasonal. 650. Volunteers 75 gardens planted so far. Give me some stories I know you have one about a woman who is to stage four breast cancer patient who received a beautiful hoping to guard. We did as a woman in Jamaica Plain. Who with the social worker and she was diagnosed with breast cancer and she recovered and everything was -- to seven years and she -- occurrence not only ones that she had seven -- occurrences and she called us and it was a miserable rainy April Saturday when I -- to log onto my email and I thought her -- in it was to sell heartbreaking said we have to do that and we found the money and we planted her garden she did have stage four with a multitude of other health problems and it made an enormous difference for her and her husband and we kept in touch eight months later she called me and she says. I had an Italian is that my doctors tell me that -- cancer free and both of us know that the garden wasn't the real reason she was cancer free but we do know that played a role it helps lower blood pressure. It gave us an inspiration. And she fits -- just knowing it was rain outside my two -- such a difference throughout the winter."

" And -- I don't anymore."

" Hoping -- is the name of the organization checked them out right now a local nonprofit hope in bloom dot org -- what you get points for me it keeps my friend alive and every time and I can help somebody else have a better day I just feel good. You have share in high school students helping you to raise funds tell me about that we do the first garden was planted in Sharon because that was important to me an off -- as a tribute to my friend. So after the garden was planted there was an article in the local paper and I received an email from a fourteen year old girl named Erica Greenberg who said."

" Hi my name's Erica I read about you I like to take pictures and I'm wondering how if I take some pictures and maybe have some kids -- me in static club in makes a note cards via. I was astonished and said sure go for it and then I didn't hear from her for year. Year later she called me she said well we have a club we have twelve people and it and we've raised 600 dollar so far on now she's sixteen and they've raised 2000 dollars and there are thirty kids in the club. And they make professional quality note cards and they seldom."

" It sounds to me like girl power young and old for those of you just joining us good morning and welcome to exceptional women. In the spotlight Roberta -- on she is the founder of all local nonprofit it's called hope in -- check them out hoping -- dot award. She and her volunteers. Plant gardens for free at the homes of breast cancer patients right here in Massachusetts. You're also able to get some help from a local jeweler."

" What is that thing about women that we just feel empowered to do something when one of -- is so sick like this what is it that we bring to the table that might be different from how men react to an illness I think women are all about sisterhood and helping other people and if they can't and they will reach out and make -- day better for somebody else and I think that that's what this is all about and who hasn't been touched by breast cancer Leon knows someone if not ourselves what is woman power. I think women power is the ability to unite and become a very strong voice for cause or a concern that you believe and and if you can get enough people behind you we will take hold and you can make change what is the message for hope in -- the message is that there is -- hope the -- that people do care about you is not the end of the world and things will look up and they will be brighter. It's just a terrible time to go through but once you're on the other side you world is completely changed ten years from now what you hope for your organization. I want this to be in every single state in the country actually what I hope is that they eradicate breast cancer but if they haven't I want to be able to do this -- people in all fifty states and not just women there are also men who have breast -- 2000 -- across the country will be diagnosed this year and 220000. Women will hear those -- 2000 and will indeed have breast cancer and we have one who was one of volunteers wow he was one of the Marines at Camp Lejeune and was diagnosed as a whole group of them he's looking to change some lines -- people actually pay more attention. At the end of the day Roberta what really matters most to you. What may -- to me is that a very simple thing like gardening. Can make a difference for someone -- hands it's on special medicine -- doctors to -- and looking at plants -- study -- by a -- area -- and -- immunology and what that means -- that means somewhere with his greenery or someplace peaceful -- someplace pretty really does make a difference on your -- and I think if more people stopped and smelled the roses they really would realize that it's such a simple thing but it does have great power I'm sure that as you were getting your organization off the ground and trying to translate your dreams to other people who heard about it for the first time. You had obstacles in your path how did you get around them when one door closes another one opens and I just kept making phone call. I would call every single journalist that I could think -- and tell them about ads that say I -- a great story for you and tell them about a special person that we planted a garden -- I would pick up the phone in college TV station and say if you want something visual I have it for you and -- now we've had a lot of local interest and now it's time to generate some interest on the national level."

" While IE congratulate you on being on this week's exceptional woman show on magic when -- six point seven we wish you all the -- with hope in bloom and for listeners who are hearing this interview and who want to either volunteer or perhaps donate some much needed funds to your organization. They should go to open and I scored in every donation is tax deductible will be put to immediately used it helps them off. Congratulations your friend would be very proud of you. Good morning and welcome to part two of exceptional women this is magic skin DO Terry must pot -- Another local woman doing what she can in the fight against breast cancer her name is Laura peca she's the founder of Diana's penthouse. It's a nonprofit. And the mission has kind of cool they wanna carry on the tradition of handwriting custom made little notes and pens and they do this all in honor of Laura's mother Diane and the net proceeds benefit cancer research and patient care at Dana Farber. To whom they have given 3000 dollars so far. Check out their website right now right dot cancer dot com Laura welcome to the show and keep happening and tell me how Diana's pen pals was born."

" I know that viewing your mom spent many many October afternoons doing a lot against breast cancer for making strides. And you've told me very nicely and you sent me a lovely note saying that you -- always inspired by hearing me talk about my mother and I know you when your mom we're standing there in that audience many many years in a -- With the making strides experience was like for you when your mom."

" It was amazing to see it grow -- it you know when it was in its infancy in 1993 the first year and we all laughed because I have that many T shirts in my Chara that I where every weekend in it was now. And now it's is grown and grown and it's just amazing and hop on. Let's go back to you and -- pen pals. This is a family affair it is my daughter -- eight helps -- some depends and package them up as well as my cousins my mom's sister who's 82 teams my daughter always laughs because she -- sure that everybody puts the -- packages them it's a family affair it's helpful with the healing and loss of my mom and we hope to really make a difference is million dollars you know we have Britney -- here last year for cell phones for soldiers and she said you know. It's a real family affair we sit around the kitchen table what's it like it's your house and we sit around my kitchen table and we come up with stations and -- my cousins and -- come over and with Dancing With The Stars on in the background if it's on indeed make pens and packets the -- it's on its life."

" I'm holding in my hand one of your works of art is a beautiful -- And when I love more than anything about the fact is that it's one of those substantial -- you know it's a heavy handed it makes you feel like he should sit down. And write a letter -- was that's so important to your mom."

" Because she felt staying in touch with people was important and sometimes a phone call as invasive or you too busy you can drop a note in the mail at any point -- the person receiving it can pick it up and read any given time the nice thing I think about it is my mom couldn't even turn on the computer Nash is a website dedicated to her. My girlfriend mentioned to me last week that she found a car that she had sent to her and she says isn't that nice you know you don't print out an email typically aren't electronic card and stick it in a drop but a card -- note handwritten you -- tucked away in trying to -- like a treasure. Nothing that was her intent when she did it but that's what she's left all that's --"

" For those of you just joining us good morning and welcome to exceptional women radio portraits of women who will inspire you. In the spotlight a local woman doing what she can in the fight against breast cancer her name is Laura -- check out her website right -- cancer. Dot com. She's the founder of -- pen pals. A nonprofit named for her mother who lost her battle against breast cancer recently what did you learn from your mother about courage."

" How was amazing. I'm sure when you -- on Scientology -- scared to buy she never showed and through the whole thing she was my cheerleader and -- cheerleader and she just embrace -- she just had the utmost confidence in the medical team that she had. That she -- whatever it was that they were doing with the past -- in fact you had said earlier in our interview that she was willing to -- new and groundbreaking drugs she was a part of the clinical trial at the Dana -- she was out of -- stepped in trial which is now part of their protocol which was amazing for the type of cancer -- she passed she and her -- positive cancer in the percentage round was team's remarkable on that -- now added to their protocol. Your mom received her care at the Dana Farber and it says on your website that she felt that these people who -- giving her care were like members of her -- That's very term in Gasol feel like that we felt like we were there on the patients and of course we know we warm. Motherless daughters walk around with what I call a big hole in my heart how do you feel you -- Depends my daughter my parents my cousins and friends but it's awful -- don't think that Eric it's built it just it's filled up a little bit and -- opening and gone to. What was your mother's -- trying to did she have a golden rule tell me a little bit about. My mom was nice to everybody cared about everybody loved to life always put everybody else first Ian. This is always willing to lend a helping hand in wanted to make a difference and life and I think the people that she touch she did whether espy and know a batch of brownies or just smile she always try to make other people's lives better and more fulfilled. -- pen pals isn't new non profit and you've got a web site called right off cancer dot com. What are your hopes for Diane pen pals. My hopes -- to impact the research done here locally -- little further and take some of date proceeds and help local families in need immediate gap that we're not aware of yet. Way back in the first fifteen years of my mom's treatment mastectomy bras were an issue insurance companies didn't -- them and we covered ones it's not realistic to have one mastectomy over. They've made changes in the insurance industry now there is more than one but there's other things that little hats when you have team illusion -- some people can't afford that. -- to get -- united hospital so I wanna support research definitely and -- to support the people that are getting the treatment in the caregivers titles. To your mother know that she had. This swimming around in your head while you were going through all this treatment. Did you ever have this conversation or did it just come to you after her death it came to me because she left me you know. And it wasn't a big. To run out no it was a hundred dollars and and she said to something good Ng good -- going off to the Julius on buying a funky rained a lot. Getting a mini Q are getting -- so it's getting a facial. She didn't mean good in this sense of good but I took that and -- came I'm gonna do something good in this is what we came and."

" And holding a pen in my hand it is absolutely beautiful gorgeous beads on it I can't describe it because it's all just so filled with love. -- can by the penny he can by the note cards. And then you can also buy a little holder to put your -- in on your desk which is really so pretty only need to do is go to write off cancer dot com. Find out more about die in his pen pals I wanna thank you so much for joining us. And telling your mom's story. On exceptional women good luck with your organization thank you thank you for having me she's really -- Laura peca is a soldier in the war against breast cancer. Now the blessings of this show is that I get to meet people like Roberta Hersh on of hope in bloom. And Mara of Diana's penthouse and I'm -- might have a song by Beth Nielsen Chapman called sand and water now that has been on this show. She's a breast cancer survivor who is also a Grammy winning singer songwriter when she was a little girl believed or not -- lived enhance coming air force base with her military family. I've been a fan of hers for quite some time and I spite play you her song."

" Is called sand and water on this version was recording right here -- mention a few years ago. It's as simple tribute to those we lose to death and it's a reminder. Love and never. Listening to. Then and wrong on magically it was six point seven follow."

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" Sand and water recorded right here years ago. -- of breast cancer survivor. Thank you so much for listening to exceptional women. This is semantics can't DO Terry for doing what we can this month to tell you stories of local women. Who are doing what they can in the fight against breast cancer we wanna congratulate all of them for sharing their stories with us. We've got more to come. If you know someone. -- changed their life for the betterment of themselves or others who's doing great things in her community we'd love to hear her story. Just go to magic 1067 dot com and click on exceptional women. And then chewing my co host game Vernon and meet every Sunday morning at this time for another edition of exceptional women. Radio portraits of women who will inspire you."