Monthly Archives: May 2014

The ABC’s of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day – Part 4

Welcome to Part 4 of the ABC’s of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®. This special alphabet is made up of 26 people, places or things you’ll encounter on the Komen 3-Day. Check out Part 1 (Letters A – D) here, Part 2 (Letters E – H) here, Part 3 (Letters I – L) here, and don’t forget to share your ideas for each letter here on the 3-Day blog or with us on Facebook. You can also help us spread the word about the 3-Day® by pinning these images on Pinterest. The more people who learn about the 3-Day, the more we can make a difference in the fight to end breast cancer forever.

Medical Crew Susan G Komen 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk

Got blisters? Dehydrated? Sore muscles? Our Medical Crew is here to help. The Medical Crew is made up of certified medical professionals who volunteer their time to make sure your 3-Day experience is healthy, happy and safe.

See also: Mac n’ Cheese, Matching Gifts

Never Give Up Susan G Komen 3 Day Breast Cancer

You’ll hear walkers, crew and spectators at cheering stations yelling out “Never Give Up” as you walk 60 miles on the 3-Day. It’s our version of Ra Ra Ra — and we mean it, in every possible way. Never give up on yourself. Never give up on the fight to end breast cancer.

See also: New Balance

Learn more about the Susan G Komen 3-Day Opening Ceremony in the walk against breast cancer

As the sun rises, walkers arrive for a magnificent weekend, heading first to the Opening Ceremony. The Opening Ceremony starts with beautiful music and a group stretch, and Dr. Sheri Prentiss, the official 3-Day spokesperson, will inspire you with words of encouragement. Soon, she shares the stage with some incredible people – your fellow walkers and crew members, who carry flags signifying their reasons for walking. And behind them, more flags are carried out, this time by breast cancer survivors. Dr. Sheri will give you one more “You can do this!” and we’re off!

See Also: Outfitters , Online Check-In

Pit Stop Susan G Komen 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk

“Rest, Refuel, Relieve Yourself” is the unofficial motto of the 3-Day pit stops. Pit stops are magical little worlds that are themed, decorated, staffed with costumed crew members, and strategically located along the route every 3-4 miles. You’ll find snacks, water, sports drinks, medical attention (in case you need it), cheerleaders and so much more at each and every pit stop, and you’re never very far from the next one!

See Also: Participant Center, Pink (You know why Pink is important!) 🙂

 

What people, places, or things would you choose for these letters? How about for our next set: Q, R, S, and T? Chime in here!

 

 

 

 

The Emotional Journey of the 3-Day Fundraiser

The Susan G. Komen 3-Day® is an experience which elicits deep and profound emotional responses at every turn. For most Komen 3-Day walkers, the emotional journey begins as soon as they register and are faced with the challenge of raising $2300. Join us as we dissect the phases of feelings that the average 3-Day® fundraiser goes through.

Anxiety susan g. Komen 3-Day breast cancer walk fundraising

How am I going to raise all that money? Will I have enough time? What if no one donates to me? The beginning of the fundraiser’s journey is often fraught with stomach-churning apprehension. It’s totally normal. Raising $2300 is a big challenge, and it deserves a respectful degree of trepidation.

Resolvesusan g. Komen 3-Day breast cancer walk fundraising resolve

The good news is, for most fundraisers, the anxiety phase is quickly pushed aside by a firm resolve to get the job done. You realize that any fear you’re feeling about fundraising is nothing compared to the terrifying reality of a breast cancer diagnosis, and you are soon ready to move beyond the worry and get to work.

Excitementsusan g. Komen 3-Day breast cancer walk fundraising excitement

Once you’ve dug in your heels and determined that failure is not an option, the fun starts. There are literally hundreds of ways that a 3-Day walker can raise money, and figuring out which strategies will work best is an exciting prospect. Should I organize a fundraising event? I wonder how much money I could raise just by recycling cans and bottles… Hey, my brother works for a company that does matching gifts! Even if your go-to tactic is as simple as sending an email to your friends and family, you will feel a special thrill in expressing your reasons for walking and your anticipation about the 60-mile journey. You will be eager to invite your friends and family to join you in the voyage.

AnticipationSusan G. Komen walkers gear up and take on Day 3 to find a cure for breast cancer.

So you’ve hit “Send” on your fundraising emails, and now…you wait. Waiting can be stressful, but remember that the fundraiser’s journey is a marathon, not a sprint. It can take time for those donations to roll in, so be patient. Give it a week or two, then send a follow-up.

Inspirationsusan g. Komen 3-Day breast cancer walk fundraising inspiration

And oh, when the donations come it, how sweet it is! There’s nothing quite like the delight of getting those notification emails letting you know that you’ve received a new donation. Your hard work is paying off, and with every new donation, your faith in humanity is confirmed. You’ll find yourself surprised and overwhelmed by the generosity that can come from sometimes the most unexpected places.

Gratitudesusan g. Komen 3-Day breast cancer walk fundraising gratitude

The appreciation that the fundraiser feels for his/her donors is as sincere an emotion as they come. With every step you take on your 60-mile adventure, you carry your donors with you.

 

Fundraising for the 3-Day is emotional, make no doubt about it. If you ever feel overwhelmed by any of these emotions, call the coaches at 800-996-3DAY. We’ve all been there, and we will always be there for you – to work through your worries, to overcome your obstacles, and to celebrate your victories.

What emotions have you experienced as a 3-Day fundraiser?

Does your fundraising need a boost? Join us on a Tweet Chat!

Did you know the first Susan G. Komen 3-Day® is less than three months away? We can’t wait to get started on the right foot on August 15 in Michigan! While most of us are thrilled that the 3-Day is only a few months away, it’s okay if you’re a little bit nervous, too. We all know the idea of fundraising $2,300 can be a daunting task and some of you might be a little worried that you won’t be able to get it all done in time. That’s why we want to talk it out with you.

Join us on Thursday, May 29 at 6:00 p.m. PST (That’s 9:00 p.m. EST, and 8:00 p.m. CT) for a Tweet Chat all about fundraising. Never done a Tweet Chat before? That’s okay! Some people call them Twitter Parties or Twitter Meet-Ups. It works like this:

1)      Sign on to Twitter at 6:00 p.m. PST.

2)      Make sure you’re following @The3Day on Twitter.

3)      On Twitter, search for #The3Day, which is the official hashtag we will use for this Tweet Chat.

4)      You can also use the website TweetChat.com. Sign in, enter the hashtag #The3Day, and you’ll be able to watch and tweet in real-time with us.

5)      We’ll have some questions we’ll ask to get things started, and we will also share tips and tricks from 3-Day veterans and coaches. This will be a great way to meet your fellow 3-Day participants, ask questions, and learn about fundraising. Our 3-Day Social Media Team, Alyssa and Erin, can’t wait to tweet with you!

Not on Twitter? Here are a few quick tips to get you started:

  • It’s free and easy to join at Twitter.com.
  • Go to twitter.com/the3day and click “Follow” to make sure our messages show up in your feed.
  • A hashtag is a way to “file” tweets and collect them under a certain topic, so you’ll be able to see everything everyone is tweeting under this hashtag. Just search for #the3day in Twitter and you’ll be able to see everyone’s messages about the 3-Day, not just ours.
  • When writing your own messages, keep in mind that tweets can only be 140 characters at a time, so it’s best to keep things short n’ sweet.

If you can’t make this Tweet Chat, you can always search #The3Day on Twitter to see all of the tweets that came from this Tweet Chat. Do you have any questions? Ask here, and remember, the 3-Day coaches are only a phone call away at 800-996-3-DAY!