The Ruth Carlton Ames Story

Ruth Carlton Ames is a passionate woman. Passionate about everything from her family to the shoulder shrugs she knits. Anyone who knows Ruth also knows that she is passionate about eradicating breast cancer.

At the age of 70, Ruth’s mother asked if she needed a mammogram. She was told it was too late to start. As a result, when she learned she had breast cancer, it was already in the advanced stages. Only eight months passed before her mother became a victim of the disease.

Ruth’s closest friend, Billie, was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer just before turning 46. Ruth moved to New York to support Billie through her treatment. “She was the sister I never had,” she shares. After nine years, Billie lost her battle. “She was an incredible friend to me; it was easy to be there for her,” Ruth says through fresh tears.

A part of WPFT from the early days, Ruth has found an organization that matches her fervor for the cause to defeat breast cancer. She never swings a tennis racquet or tees off on the course, but she proudly says “I am a fundraiser.”

No matter where Ruth goes, she meets people who have been touched by breast cancer, and people who generously support her and WPFT. “My friends and family know what I do and what I am passionate about,” she explains. “They, in turn, care about what I care about.” By sharing her passion, Ruth raises funds for WPFT locally and from around the nation.

“I do what I can to prevent what happened to Billie and my mom from happening to other women,” Ruth shares. “If you are a woman – you have breasts. It could happen to you!”