My mom, Karen Wellington, packed more LIVING into her 40 years than most fit into a lifetime. I was just a year old when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although she lived with cancer for 10 years, she never once let it define her. My mom had no time for cancer or chemo. She had parties to attend, gigs to play, paintings to create and strangers to help along the way.
My mom had a dream that once she beat cancer, each year we would send another family like our own on vacation. When she passed away in 2007, we made that dream of hers a reality. That is when the Karen Wellington Foundation for LIVING with Breast Cancer took flight.
That first year, with the help of family and friends, we sent a family LIVING with cancer on a trip. It never occurred to us that we’d be here today. Fifteen years later, we’re approaching 1,300 gifts of FUN.
Our mission is simple: we put FUN on the calendars of women and families LI VING with breast cancer. Like my mom, KWF is a “fall to your knees, arms wide open, celebrate strangers” kind of foundation. A mission whose love knows no bounds. A vision that celebrates ALL women, no matter who you are, where you come from, the stage of your diagnosis or your personal financial situation. Every woman LIVING with cancer deserves a break. And that’s where we come in.
Since 2007, KWF has gifted beach vacations, spa days, backstage passes, skydiving excursions, weekend getaways, game-day tickets, hot air balloon rides — you name it. It’s a mission that is rooted in Karen’s zest for life and sustained by thousands of big-hearted donors, recipients and their families. When someone decides to support KWF, they are not only giving deserving families something tangible, but they are also providing our recipients with the gift of community. This growing sisterhood is made up of over 1,000 fun-lovin’ ladies who, like my mom, have “been there.”
The impact of our mission would be far less significant without our supporters. These individuals press pause on their busy lives to help remind our recipients that they are worth celebrating.
You can be one of them. The next time you have a few unused game-day or theater tickets sitting in your inbox, think of us. Maybe you have a vacation home that you don’t use 52 weeks a year. Or maybe you have unused airline miles that could be gifted to a family who could really use it. We 100% guarantee that you will get more in return than you give.
Do you know one of the thousands of women and families LIVING with breast cancer who need a break? Nominate them for a gift of FUN.
Ready to support the Karen Wellington Foundation? Nominate or donate at karenwellingtonfoundation.org or follow them @KWFLiving.