Meet Lori Falke of Cincinnati, OH

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Falke.

Lori, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hi, I’m Lori Falke—wife, proud mom of three, Lola (grandma) to two amazing grandkids, and a ten-year breast cancer survivor. In 2015, my life took an unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. During that challenging time, my family and I received an incredible gift from the Karen Wellington Foundation: a vacation. It was more than just a trip—it was a chance to laugh, breathe, and forget about Cancer. That experience sparked something deep within me. I fell in love with the KWF mission and knew I had to find a way to give back. That’s when I decided to dedicate my professional time to supporting KWF.

The Karen Wellington Foundation for Living with breast cancer (KWF) is dedicated to putting fun BACK on the calendars of women and families LIVING with breast cancer. They take people out of doctors’ offices and provide them with unforgettable experiences like spa days, concerts, hot air balloon rides, and even getaways. But what makes KWF truly special is that it’s not just about the gift itself—it’s about the mental reset and hope it offers. In a time filled with appointments, treatments, surgeries and overwhelming emotions, KWF steps in to remind women that they are more than a diagnosis. It lifts the emotional weight of cancer, offering moments of peace, laughter, and light. KWF gives women permission to live again—to look forward to something, to feel normal, and to remember they have a lot of living left to do. That’s exactly what KWF did for me—and I knew from that moment on, I wanted every woman facing breast cancer to have that same life-changing experience.

In 2019, alongside 11 other amazing women, I helped create the KWF Recipient Ambassador Board (RAB). The RAB is a group of KWF recipients who decided we weren’t done with KWF after receiving our gifts—we wanted in! What started as a way to give back has turned into something so much more: a tight-knit crew of survivors who’ve become friends and share a whole lot of fun. Yes, we help with events, write birthday cards, deliver gifts, and spread the word about KWF, but more than that, we show up for each other and for every woman who needs a little more light in her life. We share breast cancer in common, but we’ve built something beyond that—connection, laughter, support, and the kind of joy that only comes when you know the hard stuff and choose to live big anyway. I’ve had the honor of chairing this board for over six years now, and together, we’ve grown it into something powerful.

One of our proudest accomplishments as a team has been creating the annual KWF FUN Run 5K & Recipient Celebration. It started as a simple idea—what if we could host a 5K that felt like a party instead of a race? Something filled with joy and purpose that could bring the entire community together. We wanted to celebrate living, honor those we’ve lost, and raise money to help the next woman who hears the words, “You have breast cancer.”

We have a ton of fun on the course, with surprises like a “Cheers to Living” stop where you can toast with a shot of champagne—but I won’t give all the fun away! We also have a post-race party that is packed with FUN and includes a DJ, food trucks, a VIP survivor tent, raffles, a Fun Zone, and more. We raise a lot of money to help KWF put fun back on the calendars of women and families living with breast cancer, and we do it with confetti, music, and a whole lot of heart. It’s not just a race—it’s a celebration of life, love, and the power of showing up for each other. And the coolest part — it’s planned and put on by KWF recipients and volunteers for the foundation!

The FUN Run has become one of KWF’s most anticipated events—and for me, it’s one of the most meaningful parts of my journey. It’s a full-circle moment that reminds me just how powerful joy can be in the face of cancer. I’m proud of where we started, and even more excited about where we’re headed. This year, we’ll celebrate our fourth annual race on August 16th at VOA Park in West Chester—and trust me, it’s going to be the best one yet.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it hasn’t always been a smooth road. Even though breast cancer treatment has come a long way, we still lose too many women each year to this awful disease. As chair of the RAB, I get to know a lot of our recipients, and many times we become close friends as we share that common bond. It’s crushing to lose a fellow KWF recipient—especially one you’ve really bonded with—yet I keep doing this work because I’m still here, and I know I’m one of the lucky ones. While losing a KWF sister in this fight is heartbreaking, I take comfort in knowing that we gave her and her loved ones some amazing memories through a KWF gift of fun.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Outside of my work with KWF, one of my biggest passions is baking —specifically decorating custom sugar cookies with royal icing. I started experimenting just for fun, curious to see if I could make cookies that looked beautiful and actually tasted good. I never made decorated sugar cookies before because I always thought they look great, but tasted awful. I challenged myself to create a recipe I truly loved. Through lots of trial and error (and a few online classes), I taught myself new techniques and discovered how much I enjoyed the creative process. I actually love the decorating way more than the baking part! But, much like life – you have to go through some not so fun parts to get the to the best parts! What began as a hobby quickly grew into something more and I started baking for family and friends. Soon I had people I didn’t even know reaching out for custom orders. I take a lot of pride in each batch I make and love the joy my cookies bring to people during their special celebrations like baby showers, weddings, and birthday parties. It means so much to know that something I created gets to be a small part of those moments. And of course, I love creating custom cookies for KWF events too!

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Back in the mid 90’s I spent two years overseas in the Philippines. When our children were young, my husband and I moved there for a project he was working on. It was a wonderful time experiencing a new culture, visiting the country, and getting to know the Filipino people. I have to admit that at first I was a bit nervous about living there, but the country is so beautiful and the people are so friendly and amazing. During that time, I had the incredible opportunity to work with high school–aged kids at a local orphanage, helping prepare them for life after graduation. I mentored them, helped with job applications, took them to interviews, and worked to set them up for success. It was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life—being able to support and encourage these young adults as they stepped into their futures. It was so very rewarding and something I’ll always carry with me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.karenwellingtonfoundation.org/main
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kwfliving/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenwellingtonfoundation