And we’re off! The first 3-Day walkers of the season are proudly wearing their victory t-shirts, and considering any blisters their badges of courage after completing the Susan G. Komen San Francisco 3-Day on June 21 – 23.

The hours before their event are such an exciting time for our 3-Day walkers and crew, and the words of one of our extraordinary multiple-event walkers, Jim Hillman, sum up the feelings of our inspiring 3-Day community. Thank you, Jim for sharing!

• “With the lights low, the clock approaching 9:00 pm, it’s time to consider a little shuteye, as 0345 will come a little too quickly for me. My thoughts turn to all that has happened over the last several months, including the months of training, the fundraising and Getting Started meetings. I also have to acknowledge the recent news that seven 3-Day walks would be cancelled in 2014 and the announcement of a new CEO. There are so many things to consider as I, along with many others, approach the 2013 3-Day event season. As these thoughts whirled around, they began to focus on why we take on these challenges, why we continue to walk, to crew, to cheer people on and to overcome the obstacles that we do. We …walk because we are passionate about supporting a community, focused on one goal…to find a cure for breast cancer and to help those affected by this disease in any way we can.”
  

  Multi event walker Jim Hillman inspires us all!

• “Although the numbers may be down, I know the spirit of this community is high. As I walked around Crew Day, I spent several hours visiting with crew, with staff and with many walkers. We talked about the coming year, recent issues and all that encompasses our special community. What I received from those I visited was a sense of excitement for the challenges before us, the opportunity to continue to make a difference, a chance to impact the lives of those affected by breast cancer. I felt a spirit that we will not be denied our end goal, to find a cure for breast cancer.”
• “My thoughts returned to the rehearsal and the entrance of the survivors onto the stage, the first two carrying the flags that continue to drive my passion for walking: Patience and Courage. To me, they are inseparable and feed off each other. When the times are difficult, we need patience and courage to see us through, to help us not jump to conclusions that can cause confusion and to allow the necessary time for the good things to nurture and to grow. We also need to have courage, to take bold steps, to take on new opportunities and ideas, to stand up for what we know is right.”
• As we prepare to take our first steps tomorrow, I am not only confident that this San Francisco 3-Day will be the best ever, that it will be a 60-mile celebration with old friends and new, but also that it is the beginning of a stronger, more focused, more passionate community than we can imagine, a community that will continue to pursue the goal of finding a cure.”
• “As the sun rises over the Oakland hills and the San Francisco Bay tomorrow morning, it will be the dawn of a new 3-Day season, the renewal of the 3-Day spirit, the continued opportunity to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. It’s time to walk!”

How do you feel the night before your 3-Day journey begins? Please share your story in the comment section below.