What does real support look like when a cancer diagnosis hits the middle of ordinary life? We dive into the story behind the Karen Wellington Foundation and explore how “fun” becomes care: dinners that taste like freedom, concerts that shake off chemo fog, Disney pools where a mom laughs with her kids and forgets she’s bald for an afternoon. It’s not about escaping reality; it’s about restoring it, one intentional moment at a time.

We talk through how the foundation flips the script on traditional aid by asking a simple question—what does fun look like to you?—and letting recipients lead. That opens space for hyper-personal gifts: a steakhouse night plus Adam Sandler tickets, front-row seats at a game, or no‑travel experiences that feel easy and joyful. You’ll hear how a podcast nomination turned into a full-circle moment, how a crew of exhausted installers found new energy to put holiday lights on a widowed dad’s home, and why anticipation itself is a powerful medicine for families.

Along the way, we highlight partners and pathways that expand impact without adding friction: in‑kind hotel nights and miles, buy‑one‑give‑one music therapy, and grants that land with uncanny timing. A volleyball team reading a surprise nomination to their coach on Pink Day shows how communities can see and celebrate their own. We also share chapter stats, the renewed 2026 focus on “impact with intention,” and practical ways to nominate someone without bureaucracy or second-guessing their timeline.

If this moved you, help us spread it. Nominate a woman living with breast cancer, offer in‑kind support, or share this episode with a friend who needs hope. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what joy would you send first?

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