Boston 3-Day Raises $2.3 Million for Breast Cancer

The 2026 Boston 3-Day raised $2.3 million for breast cancer research and support services.

This past weekend marked the season opener for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®. More than 900 participants filled the cobblestone streets of Boston, raising an inspiring $2.3 million to help end breast cancer.

Day 1

The Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Susan G. Komen 3-Day was held at the Marriott Copley Place.

The 3-Day began with the inspirational Opening Ceremony at the Boston Marriott Copley Place, where new walkers, longtime veterans, teams, solo walkers, breast cancer survivors, those in treatment and those living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) gathered before heading out onto the 3-Day route. The room was filled with hope, a deep sense of purpose and the Pink Bubble community.

“You fundraised, you trained, you rearranged schedules to be here. You asked friends, family, neighbors, coworkers and strangers to believe in this mission with you,” 3-Day Co-Hosts Lori and Beverly reminded the crowd. “Together, we will move this mission forward to create a world where no one dies from breast cancer.”

Survivors and those living with MBC led the way out on to the 3-Day route, beginning a 20-mile day filled with beautiful scenery, fun costumes and awesome cheer stations.

The 2026 Susan G. Komen 3-Day barreled through the cobblestone streets of Boston in August.

That morning, veteran walker Lisa S., a breast cancer survivor who has completed 13 events, noticed first-time walker Jackie G. and welcomed her into the Pink Bubble. From that moment, the two were inseparable, and together, they encouraged other first-time walkers along the way.

The Top Fundraiser Showcase Showdown, sponsored by national presenting sponsor Bank of America, celebrated the Boston 3-Day’s Top fundraisers with interactive games, and audience members were invited to play and win prizes.

The Showcase Showdown was a new element of the 2026 Susan G. Komen Boston 3-Day,

Coach Heather presented the Milestone Award to Laura P., who has raised nearly $300,000 in just six seasons as a 3-Day walker. Kristin S. received the Crew Impact Award for her 18 3-Days event and nearly $90,000 raised.

After a long, physically challenging day on the route, walkers enjoyed much-needed relaxation in massage chairs provided at camp by Bank of America,. Nearby, Wacoal, a 25-year Komen National Corporate Partner, offered free bra fittings and merchandise for participants.

Day 2

The iconic Cheers bar is a favorite photo op along the Susan G. Komen Boston 3-Day route.

Day 2 took walkers through the Underground at Ink Block, along the Fort Point Channel and past Boston’s historic Old State House. The Pink Bubble enjoyed a fun photo op at the iconic Cheers bar before continuing to Fenway Park.

At lunch, walkers rested and stretched on pink carpets provided by Mohawk, a 25-year Komen partner, and received commemorative celebrating Mohawk’s long-standing support of the 3-Day.

A walker relaxing on a pink carpet provided by Mohawk at the 2026 Susan G. Komen Boston 3-Day.

The tree-lined Memorial Mile offered a quiet, reflective stretch of the route lined with signs honoring those who have died from breast cancer.

That evening, the Honor Ceremony celebrated the Youth Corps, who raised $8,930 and spent three days supporting walkers and lifting spirits. Each member shared their personal connection to breast cancer and were applauded for their dedication and courage.

Members of the 2026 Susan G. Komen Boston 3-Day Youth Corps.

Speakers included Amanda T., who honored her mother, Anne, and Laura S., who honored her mother, Adelina. Each spoke about the gift of time and special milestones with their mothers. “Watching my mom complete her sixth Susan G. Komen 3-Day reminds me what this event is really about: hope,” Lauren said. “It honors the strength of every person who has faced breast cancer. It celebrates the lives they continue to build beyond a diagnosis. And it surrounds all of us with a community that believes no one should have to face this journey alone.”

Sherly M. honored her mother, Sandee, who died from breast cancer when Sherly was 18 and her friend, Irene, who died just two weeks after last year’s Boston 3-Day. “My ‘why’ for walking has changed over the years. I still walk to remember and celebrate. But I also walk so my kids hear stories of hope, love, and resilience, and meet people who inspire them,” she said.

Participants lit candles and placed them in luminaria bags at the front of the stage, honoring loved ones impacted by breast cancer — a beautiful close to Day 2.

Day 3

The final day of the 2026 Boston 3-Day took participants along the most historical part of the route.

The final day of the Boston 3-Day took walkers past historical landmarks and waterfront pathways including Freedom Trail and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. As the Pink Bubble moved throughout the city, it was great to see veterans guiding first-time walkers, teams walking shoulder-to-shoulder, Youth Corps cheering and supporters lining the streets with signs, cheers and endless encouragement.

Held at the Boston Common Parade Grounds, many participants crossed the Finish Line hand-in-hand, with arms extended into the air in celebration of three days of strength, many with tears of joy.

The last walker, Jake M., who is living with MBC, walked all 60 miles accompanied by his wife, Nicole, and their son who was a member of the Youth Corps. Jake said his goal was to raise awareness for male breast cancer. At the Closing Ceremony, participants and crew members celebrated through tears and lifted their shoes in honor of every survivor and thriver who made the 3-Day journey unforgettable.

Jake M., who is living with metastatic breast cancer, was the last walker of the 60-mile Susan G. Komen Boston 3-Day.

As the weekend came to a close, it was evident that every mile of the 3-Day reflected the heart of the Pink Bubble — the belief that every step brings us closer to a world without breast cancer.

We’re deeply grateful to our sponsors Mohawk Flooring, XPO, Wacoal and Bank of America whose support made the Boston 3-Day so meaningful.

Since 2004, the Boston 3-Day has raised over $52.5 million to save lives, support community programs, increase access to care and make strides in breast cancer research, therapies and treatments.

A Glimpse at the 2026 Boston 3-Day Route

The 2025 Boston 3-Day was home to groups of walkers dressed in pink from head to toe.

Boston is gearing up to welcome the Pink Bubble back for another unforgettable Susan G. Komen 3-Day®. Whether you’re returning or experiencing the 3-Day route for the first time, Boston has something for everyone to enjoy.

Boston is one of America’s oldest cities and rich with history at every turn. From its colonial landmarks to its iconic neighborhoods, every mile in Boston is memorable. This year, participants will also see the new Commonwealth Pier, which offers beautiful waterfront views and a new perspective on Boston’s harbor.

Day 1: Landmarks & Neighborhoods We Love

A group of 3-Day walkers at Graffiti Alley at the 2025 Boston 3-Day.

Your 3-Day journey will start bright and early with an exciting Opening Ceremony at the Marriott Copley Place, before you set out on your first 20 miles. You’ll pass Boston icons like the Citgo sign, a skyline staple since 1940, and wind through the tree-lined streets of Brookline, Chestnut Hill and Brighton with support from cheer stations along the way. In Allston, you’ll walk along Boston University, a Komen Grantee advancing breast cancer research through groundbreaking studies in genetics, environmental risk factors, therapies and early detection methods.

Crossing the Charles River brings you to Harvard Square in Cambridge, home to historic Harvard Yard, eclectic shops, restaurants, bookstores and street performers. Don’t miss the photo op at Graffiti Alley, a colorful area where graffiti and street artists can legally express themselves.

Participants are full of high energy as they walk into the Celebration of Champions at the 2025 Boston 3-Day.

You’ll end Day 1 taking your last steps at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, another incredible Komen Grantee and world leader in research and education. You’ll be tired after your first 20 miles, but also proud of the miles you powered through. Back at camp, be sure to take some time to relax in the Bank of America massage chairs, eat a delicious meal and sit and enjoy the Celebration of Champions with the rest of the Pink Bubble community.

Day 2: Art, Culture & Classic Boston Energy

Fenway Park is a great photo op for 3-Day walkers along the Boston 3-Day route.

The second day kicks off through the Underground at Ink Block, an urban art park beneath the I-93 expressway transformed into an innovative community hub filled with murals and walking paths in Boston’s South End neighborhood. From there, you’ll pass the Fort Point Channel and Boston’s historic Old State House. Built in 1713, it’s one of the oldest public buildings in the United States and a powerful reminder of Boston’s role in early American history.

Next, the Pink Bubble will walk to the iconic Cheers bar, made famous by the long-running TV sitcom, and then to Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912 and America’s oldest Major League Baseball park.

The halfway point of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day on Day 2 of the Boston 3-Day.

You’ll then pass Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where Komen-funded research pushes us closer to a world without breast cancer. From there, you’ll continue toward beautiful Jamaica Pond, a stunning 68-acre freshwater oasis. Next up is a stroll past the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery where the renowned beer is brewed daily, before walking past the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, which collectively contain over 500,000 works of art. The day winds down through the lush Back Bay Fens, before ending at the 124-year-old Symphony Hall. Back at camp, you’ll enjoy a warm meal, the heartfelt Honor Ceremony and some quiet time to rest and relax before you take on the challenge of the last day.

Day 3: History & Heart

The final day of the 2025 Boston 3-Day is rich in history.

On your final day, you’ll visit a variety of meaningful landmarks. First is the William Lloyd Garrison Memorial Statue, honoring one of America’s most prominent abolitionists. Then, you’ll see the Hatch Memorial Shell, a 40-foot semi-circular arch set into the ground of the Charles River Esplanade. This unique outdoor concert and performance venue makes for a great Pink Bubble team photo op.

From there, you’ll explore the storied Freedom Trail that connects 16 sites which are historically significant to the American Revolution. Along the way, you’ll be able to admire the USS Constitution, the Bunker Hill Monument, Old North Church, Paul Revere’s House, and much more before immersing yourself in the stories of the Boston Tea Party.

The giant Hood milk bottle along the Boston 3-Day route.

As you begin to wrap up your 3-Day journey, you won’t miss the giant Hood Milk Bottle, a beloved landmark with sweet treats for purchase. Continue your walk through South Boston, and see the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, the Boston Public Market and the Garden of Peace before heading to the Finish Line Festival at Boston Common Parade Grounds where the emotions and celebrations will be overwhelming in the best possible way.

As you look ahead to this week’s Boston 3-Day, you can expect a route filled with deep history and unforgettable moments. And by the time you reach the finish line, you’ll have earned a deep sense of accomplishment and a celebration worthy of the journey.

We can’t wait to see you on the route.

How the 3-Day Routes Come to Life

Participants walking along the shoreline at the 2025 San Diego 3-Day.

Planning the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® takes months of collaboration and careful coordination. Each route is carefully designed to be safe, challenging and memorable while taking participants on an unforgettable journey of up to 60 miles toward a world without breast cancer.

This year’s Komen 3-Day Series will travel through four beautiful destinations — the historic streets of Boston, the charming neighborhoods of Dallas/Fort Worth, the waterfront in San Diego and the scenic paths of Tampa Bay. While each route and city offers its own unique experience, every mile is carefully planned long before the Pink Bubble arrives in town.

Planning the Route

A group of 3-Day participants walking through an intersection at the 2025 Boston 3-Day.

The route planning process of the three day, 60-mile walk is a year-round effort that requires collaboration between Komen staff, city officials, police departments, public works teams, chambers of commerce, visitor bureaus and other local partners.

“We’re very lucky to have great relationships with every city that we’re in,” route planner Ethan P. said. “I really can’t thank the cities enough for what they do for us.”

Planners aim for approximately 20 miles each day of the event while identifying parks and open spaces for pit stops and lunch, and ensuring major intersections are staffed by route safety.

Walkers line a street at the 2025 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day.

Scenic paths, local landmarks and iconic attractions help shape the 3-Day routes, but planning also includes adapting to changing conditions. Construction projects, road closures, local events and even parking availability can impact where 3-Day participants walk from year to year.

“When one event’s over, we’re already looking at next year and how to make the route better,” Ethan said. “It could be the smallest things like there’s not enough parking at this one spot to we just think that this area is much prettier.”

The pink arrows are placed along the 3-Day route to keep participants on the right track throughout event weekend.

To help participants confidently navigate all 60 miles, the route planning team marks the course with pink arrows. They are placed along the route to keep participants moving in the right direction, along pit stops, to lunch and back on to the next portion of the day’s route. It is another behind-the-scenes detail that’s key to creating a safe, seamless 3-Day experience.

It Takes a Village

A successful 3-Day route also depends on the support of the communities that welcome the Pink Bubble each year. The 3-Day team spends several months doing outreach with local businesses, neighborhoods and community partners along the route.

Businesses showing support for 3-Day walkers at the 2025 San Diego 3-Day.

“The 3-Day coaches do an amazing job at helping us and making sure we’re reaching out to everybody around where we’re walking,” Ethan said. “The support we have received from Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Diego and now Tampa Bay has been truly amazing. “

The community spirit is part of what makes every 3-Day so special. From businesses decorating storefronts with pink decorations and snack stations to cheering spectators lining the sidewalks, the encouragement participants receive throughout the weekend happens because of the in-depth preparation that leads up to every event season.

Every City Has Its Own Feel

The 2025 Boston 3-Day had a historical backdrop for participants.

Each 3-Day route is different and that is what makes each city so special. This year, San Diego participants can look forward to a couple of new pit stops that Ethan described as “absolutely stunning,” though he is keeping the details a surprise.

Tampa Bay returns to the 3-Day in February 2027 for the first time since 2013, giving many participants the opportunity to experience an entirely new route featuring waterfront views, downtown streets and scenic trails.

“It’s going to be a very pretty route that’s also really diverse,” Ethan said.

Boston will feature a new pier on Day 3 that participants will be able to walk around, while Dallas/Fort Worth’s new hotel and camp location has inspired thoughtful route updates that still preserve many of the familiar sights participants know and love.

To learn more about the 3-Day routes, visit the3day.org.