In the early hours of Day 1 of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® in San Diego, there was some concern that the weather was not going to cooperate. After a rainy night and early morning, the Opening Ceremony site was covered with puddles and a light drizzle continued to fall. But by the time the Ceremony had begun, the dark clouds had passed, leaving a dazzling blue sky and stunning sunrise. The change from gloomy to glorious was a fitting parallel to what many Komen 3-Day participants experience in their fundraising journeys: a concerning start, followed shortly by a lifting of the clouds and dazzling prospects ahead.
If that analogy is true for the average 3-Day® fundraiser, it’s even more fitting for the top fundraisers for the San Diego 3-Day, individuals and teams who shine through the clouds more brightly than anyone.
Top Individual Fundraiser
Michelle (center), the Top Individual Fundraiser in San Diego
Michelle B., the captain of Team Michelle, has made remarkable strides in her five years as a 3-Day walkers. This year, she earned the distinction of top individual fundraiser, bringing in an amazing $42,212. Across her five events, she has raised a lifetime total of $57,072. In addition to growing her fundraising total, Michelle has grown her team from 14 their first year (2010) to 35 this year, including her nephew, who traveled from Kansas with his mom to participate as part of the San Diego Youth Corps this weekend.
Top Fundraising Team
Representatives from PBO (left three), including team captain Amy B. (center)
It’s hard to walk around the San Diego 3-Day without seeing the name Powered by Optimism. The San Diego 3-Day’s largest team with 109 members, Powered by Optimism, or PBO as they’re known, was also the top fundraising team in San Diego this year, raising $302,745. The team, led by captain Amy B. (who was also the Top Training Walk Leader in San Diego this year) is in its 5th year as team, and has raised a grand total of $901,291 in that time. Wow!
Top Crew Fundraiser
Top Crew Fundraiser, Carol B. (left)
It’s worth mentioning, in case anyone isn’t aware, that 3-Day crew members, while encouraged to raise moneyas part of their crew commitment, are not required to raise a cent. This reality makes the $15,017 that was raised by Top Crew Fundraiser Carol B., all the more astonishing. Carol, a member of the Traffic Control crew team, is participating in her 9th event over her 8 years with the 3-Day, and is a 10 year survivor.
(Side note: In addition to Carol, there are two other crew members who have raised more than $10,000 in San Diego this year. Our heartfelt thanks go to Lori O. and Sandi S., both members of the sweep crew team, who each raised $10,102.01, more than 3 times what is required of individual walkers. Amazing!)
Congratulations to all of these extraordinary members of the 3-Day family, and every San Diego 3-Day participant who raised money this year. With you, we are all that much closer to our goal of ending breast cancer in our lifetimes.
