Anyone who steps up to the challenge of participating in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® is making an incredible commitment. The months spent on fundraising strategy and execution, training plans and schedules, prepping, packing and traveling almost make it feel like the Komen 3-Day is your second job (good thing it’s a job you love!).

That’s why it’s especially remarkable when we meet a walker who makes the extraordinary decision to walk in every 3-Day® event in one year. In the past, there have been one or two walkers each year who dedicate themselves to walking the “full series,” but in 2014, we are honored to have eight amazing people taking on the full series and walking in all seven 3-Day events.

Today, let’s meet two of the series walkers, and we’ll introduce you to the rest over the next few days!

Nicole H.

Nicole and her primitive pink friend

• What’s your name and where are you from? – My name is Nicole Hercules and I am from St. Peters, Missouri
• What is your 3-Day history (how many events have you walked/crewed?) – I began walking the 3-Day in 2010. Last year I completed my 6th event as a walker with the 3-Day.
• How/why did you first get involved with the 3-Day? – I became involved with the 3-Day because I lost my mom to breast cancer in 2004. In 2009, I also discovered that I am considered high risk. Those were my main reasons in 2010, now in 2014 there are too many to even count.
• Are you part of any teams in 2014? – I am on a team for every 3-Day except for Twin Cities.
• What made you decide to do all 7 events this year? – My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer a few days before I left for the Cleveland event last year. He passed away on November 5, 2013. I have now lost two parents to cancer. I will turn 40 in August, and it will be my 10th birthday without my mom. I figured if there was a year to do it, this would be the one.
• What are your go-to fundraising strategies? – Ask anyone and everyone. All they can say is no. Also don’t be afraid to try new things. You never know what might take off.
• What are you looking forward to the most with your walks this year? – Making a difference and meeting new people. I want to show others that anything can be done if you want it bad enough. There isn’t much in the world that I want more than a cure for cancer.
• Is there anything that you’re nervous about? – Not really. Maybe back-to-back 3-Day events; I haven’t ever done those before. Oh and that crazy long bridge in Seattle.
• What 3 words would you use to describe the 3-Day? – Hope, Cure, and Love

Melissa P.

Yeah. Melissa looks ready. 🙂

• What’s your name and where are you from? – Melissa Province – Minneola, Kansas
• What is your 3-Day history (how many events have you walked/crewed?) – 2011 – walked Dallas (with broken foot!); 2012 – walked Dallas; 2013 – walked San Diego [Correction: Melissa walked Seattle in 2013!]
• How/why did you first get involved with the 3-Day? – Shortly after my step mother Marcy faced her 2nd diagnosis of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, I decided I wanted to be more actively involved with advocating, awareness and early detection. My grandmother, a breast cancer survivor and one of my biggest motivators, had a huge influence on my decision to get involved with the 3-Day. After all, I had 2 amazing examples of fighters, 2 inspiring stories of hope, and 2 perfect examples of the importance of early detection right before my eyes.
• Are you part of any teams in 2014? – I am so excited about my teams this year! In Michigan, I have the honor to walk with Cleveland Cleavage. Twin Cities, I am available if anyone needs another walker to join their team! Philly, I have the privilege to be part of an amazing team known as Breast Friends of Pennsylvania. Seattle is exciting because I will get to walk with my awesome friends as part of Team Tracy! Atlanta, I am joining the Atlanta Alliance. Dallas, I am walking with the Wonder Boobs! San Diego, I get to be reunited with the every so classy and super sassy team that I love with all of my heart, Saving Private Tatas.
• What made you decide to do all 7 events this year? – I am a dreamer, so since 2012 I knew that someday I would walk all of the 3-Day events in one year. I like to set insane goals and then go out there and grab them. I wasn’t really sure that this was the year – until my Sole Sister, Nicole [Hercules, a fellow 2014 series walker] called me with the news of her father passing from lung cancer. My immediate response was “I have to walk all 7.” She agreed that she had to as well. We quickly went on a registering spree, and here we are!
• What are your go-to fundraising strategies? – The best way to raise money is to simply ask. When people know that you are only “so much” short of a goal, they want to help you. If I am $100 short of hitting the 70% mark, I post that to Facebook. Personally, I think that people enjoy knowing that they were responsible for getting you to the next mile marker. When all else fails, you tell people that your gigantic husband will paint his toenails pink when your account reaches $100, dye his beard pink at $500, dance in a tutu at $1000 and cook pizza in your restaurant all weekend long in a tutu once your reach $2300. It will freak your kids out, but your account fills up pretty quickly!
• What are you looking forward to the most with your walks this year? – I love people, so I am most looking forward to making new friends. I am also looking forward to camping in a hot pink tent, and the Macaroni and Cheese.
• Is there anything that you’re nervous about? – Nervous, I am! I am absolutely freaking out about hitting my fundraising minimum for all 7 cities. It is such a huge dedication, and I don’t want to fail anyone because I fell short of the fundraising requirements.
• What 3 words would you use to describe the 3-Day? – Motivational, Inspirational, Sensational!

Come back to the 3-Day blog tomorrow to meet two more of our full series walkers!