Jessica’s Story: From Lifelong Komen Volunteer to Survivorship and Walking the 3-Day

Jessica P. and her two daughters at a Susan G. Komen event.

When Jessica P. participates in the Susan G. Komen Tampa Bay 3-Day® in 2027, she’ll walk with nearly three decades of connection to the Komen community. First as a teenage volunteer and now as a two-time breast cancer survivor.

A Lifelong Connection to Komen

Jessica became involved with Susan G. Komen® at just 14 years old while completing community service hours for the National Honor Society. What started as volunteer hours during high school evolved into something that would give her a deep sense of purpose.

“It was a really empowering place to be when I was young,” Jessica said. “I remember after volunteering at the West Palm Beach Race for the Cure events, my parents would pick me up and I would tell them about all of the inspiring stories I heard.”

Jessica continued volunteering with Komen in West Palm Beach, Florida, into adulthood. She got married, had a family and continued to participate in annual Komen events through volunteering and walking — often bringing her family along.

For years, she stayed closely connected to the mission that first inspired her as teenager.

Jessica P. and her baby at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure around the time of her breast cancer diagnosis.

When the Mission Became Personal

Then in 2019, the cause she had spent years supporting suddenly became extremely personal when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I honestly didn’t think it would happen to me. I had a 5-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old daughter whom I immediately had to stop nursing when I was diagnosed,” Jessica said. “It was an added emotional and physical strain that nothing could have prepared me for.”

Just two years later, in 2021, Jessica was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time. Her treatments included a double mastectomy, reconstruction surgeries, radiation therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy due to surgery complications.

Finding Strength Through Community

Even during her most difficult moments, Jessica said she found strength in the women she had encountered within the Komen community over the years.

“Through volunteering for Komen, I had been around breast cancer for so many years and I saw the survivorship. I saw the women holding the signs that said 20-plus years, 30-plus years,” Jessica said. “So, if they could be strong enough, I knew I could do it, too.”

Jessica P. and her husband and daughters at a Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event.

Giving Back

In September, Jessica will celebrate five years of survivorship.

Today, she continues to show up for Komen as a passionate fundraiser preparing for her first 3-Day. After spending decades hearing stories from participants and survivors, she understands firsthand the impact that every dollar raised can make.

“After I was diagnosed, it kind of flipped something inside of me,” Jessica said. “My almost 45-year-old self went back to being 14 or 15, remembering those stories and those women. It lit a fire inside me. I knew I had to help.”

Successful Tips for Fundraising

As Jessica reflects on the fundraising lessons she’s gathered over the years, her advice for fellow participants is simple but powerful:

Reach out to previous donors and always send a personal thank you.

Never underestimate the power of Facebook and social media to connect with potential donors and supporters.

Add a personal touch and share your story honestly.

Don’t be afraid to go out to your community and ask for a donation.

Use tools like QR codes to make donating simple and accessible.

Remember, every dollar counts.

Jessica has raised nearly $77,000 through her participation in Komen events. She hopes her story reminds others that every step, every story and every donation has the power to make a lasting impact.

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

The Power Behind Every 3-Day Donation

An embrace at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day

When you donate to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®, you might wonder where your dollars go. With every donation, they embark on a powerful journey, one that brings hope where there is uncertainty, comfort where there is fear and progress where there is urgent need.

Every dollar raised through the 3-Day could become the research breakthrough that leads to lifesaving treatment. From a call to the Patient Care Center at just the right moment to financial help that aids a patient in getting to chemotherapy to advocating for state and federal policy change to ensure all people have affordable access to the care they need – every dollar carries the weight of possibility.

A Mother’s Journey from Breast Cancer to the 3-Day

Cecilia S. at the 3-Day with her family.

It’s been nearly five years since Cecilia S. was diagnosed with breast cancer at 34 while raising two young children. It became a journey that led her to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®.

Now, she is approaching a milestone she has looked forward to since her diagnosis, one that has been defined by strength and hope.

“When they say, ‘you’re a survivor,’ it’s interesting because we have no other choice,” Cecilia said. “But what’s amazing is the connection you form with other women, because without that, breast cancer can feel very isolating.”

The Diagnosis

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cecilia encouraged her sister to get a mammogram after turning 40, despite many delaying preventative care. That same night, Cecilia performed a self-exam.

“I had recently finished breastfeeding, so my breasts were like pancakes. I felt a tiny pebble close to my armpit,” Cecilia said. “So, I went to see my doctor.”

At first, Cecilia thought it might be a clogged milk duct. But after a series of ultrasounds, a mammogram and a biopsy, she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Genetic testing revealed she had the BRCA1 inherited gene mutation, which led to a pivot in her treatment plan, including a double mastectomy and 16 rounds of chemotherapy in 2022. She underwent reconstruction surgery on her 35th birthday.

Joining the Pink Bubble

Team Steps at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.

Just a few months after her reconstruction surgery, Cecilia learned one of her colleagues — a 30-year breast cancer survivor — was training for the 3-Day with other co-workers.

“They invited me to train with them and told me they were walking in my name. I went and I was shocked at how easy it was to be around women who understood what I had been though,” Cecilia said. “That’s when I knew I wanted to do the 3-Day, too.”

Although Cecilia had lived in Texas since 2017, she and her husband signed up for the 2022 San Diego 3-Day just months after she completed treatment.

“I’m originally from California. I went to college at UC San Diego and all my family is in California. The 3-Day felt like a great way to bookend my journey,” Cecilia explained. “All of my family and friends who couldn’t be physically with me in Texas had the opportunity to be there to support me.”

Cecilia walked at her own pace during her first 3-Day, and with the encouragement of her husband, her teammates and support of the medical crew for her neuropathy pain, she walked every Komen mile as a first time walker. Despite the challenges, she said she was immediately “hooked” on the Pink Bubble. Since then, Cecilia has walked the 3-Day in Denver, San Diego and Dallas/Fort Worth, and this fall she will complete her sixth 3-Day.

Cecilia and her friends at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.

The support and strength Cecilia found through the 3-Day inspired her to help other women facing breast cancer feel less alone.

“When I hear about other women diagnosed with breast cancer, I try to support them — even if it’s just a text reminding them, they aren’t alone,” Cecilia said. “I try to encourage friends and fellow breasties to join my 3-Day Team Steps because simply being there can restore hope. Standing alongside 30-and 40-year survivors is a powerful reminder that this journey doesn’t end with a diagnosis — it continues with strength, community and spreading awareness.”

Cecilia and Mary at the Susan G. Komen 3-day.

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