At the Susan G. Komen Philadelphia 3-Day earlier this month, we were pleased to recognize some of our outstanding Komen 3-Day participants with special awards given out in camp.
Top Fundraisers
We recognized the top individual, crew and team fundraisers for the Philadelphia 3-Day® in camp on Friday.
For the second year in a row, Priscilla Rawlins (sweep team) was the top crew fundraiser in Philadelphia, raising $5,793 this year, and an incredible $60,075 over her seven years with the 3-Day. Priscilla is a member of Team Girlapalooza, which also got a special team recognition in camp for passing the $1 million in team fundraising this year (they’ve been a team since 2008). As for Priscilla, when she’s not participating and fundraising for the 3-Day, she coaches softball, loves Nationals baseball, and is obsessed with her FitBit.
Team captain Vivien (left)
The top fundraising team in Philadelphia was Breast Friends of Pennsylvania, which, with 79 team members was also the largest team on the Philly 3-Day this year. Team captain Vivian Vega-Schoch, along with her two 2016 co-captains, was recognized for the team’s amazing $145,619 fundraising total (though team members were quick to point out from the audience that they had actually surpassed $146,000 since we had last checked their fundraising total!). In their four years as a Philadelphia 3-Day team, Breast Friends of Pennsylvania has raised over $478,000.
Philadelphia’s top individual fundraiser was Riley Weston, a member of team Faith Girlz, who was participating in her fifth 3-Day this year in Philly. Riley raised a remarkable $22,553 this year, and over five 3-Day events, has raised a lifetime total of $86,555. Riley will proudly tell you that she believes that miracles exist, that fairy tales come true and that prayers can change outcomes, and Inside her petite frame beats a big heart, as she asked her Philly 3-Day family to send their own powerful healing thoughts to her best buddy, her dog Cleatus.
Heaps of thanks go out to all of the Philly 3-Day walkers, crew members and supporters who helped bring the Philadelphia 3-Day to $2.7 million in total donations.
Milestone Award
Philly coach Joanne (left) presents Candice with the Milestone Award
In Friday’s camp show, we also honored the Philadelphia 3-Day Milestone Award winner. This award is given on each 3-Day event to one participant who has an extraordinary history of involvement with the 3-Day. Philly’s Milestone Award was given to Candice Kiss, from The Pink Angels.
Candice has been part of the 3-Day family for 9 years, and the 2015 Philadelphia 3-Day marked her 14th event. During her time with the 3-Day, Candice has raised over $105,000, and in addition to the 3-Day this globe-trotting walker has also participated in Komen Race for the Cure® events in Egypt and Israel and the Marathon for the Cure® (half marathon) in Phoenix, AZ. But it’s not just breast cancer events that draw her to the far corners of the globe: a new-found interest in genealogy recently took Candice on an exploration of the Azores, an archipelago of 9 volcanic islands off the coast of Portugal. Wow!
But it’s Candice’s history with the 3-Day that earned her the Milestone Award. Her friend and coworker Elizabeth said, “Candice is the consummate business professional, extremely conscientious and dedicated. These traits extend to her personal activities as well. Her dedication to the Susan G. Komen® organization and breast cancer awareness is awe-inspiring, as each year brings a greater level of hard work and new activity. Her bright personality never wanes and offers hope to others around her. I consider myself lucky to be one of Candice’s friends.” Another friend and fellow walker Sharyn had this to say about Candice: “I’m so excited Candice will be recognized for her dedication and passion. I met her years ago, when she either volunteered or worked for the Komen Affiliate. Fast forward to our mutual friendship with Bridget [a friend who passed away in 2013] and that’s where her passion, and love for her really shined. She is a tireless fundraiser for this cause. She is quiet, unassuming and humble. She’s one you want in your corner.”
Congratulations, Candice, and thank you for your years of dedication to the 3-Day community. We’re sure glad we have you in our corner.
Local Impact Award
The Local Impact Award is a new award for 2015, and is being presented to a participant in each 3-Day city who has been instrumental in strengthening the 3-Day in their community throughout the year. Local Impact Award honorees are participants who go above and beyond with things like leading training walks, attending local events, supporting the local 3-Day staff year-round at meet-ups and workshops, and in general, making a difference in their 3-Day community by building lasting relationships and showing commitment to the 3-Day in all they do.
On Saturday in camp, we presented the Philadelphia Local Impact Award to Joanne Faccenda. Joanne is the captain of J-Walkers for the Cure, and has participated as a walker and crew member in 19 events over her 10 years with the 3-Day, not only in Philadelphia, but also the Twin Cities, San Diego, Tampa, Seattle, Washington, D.C., Cleveland and Atlanta. She has raised a total of $23,645.
Joanne has been involved with the 3-Day since 2006, after she lost a friend who was only 40 years old to cancer. She quickly became a vocal 3-Day advocate and has been essential to leading many fundraisers over the years, including ones for new walkers she befriends simply to be a source of support. Joanne has been known to travel long distances to help her fellow 3-Day walkers, and her friend Dawn told us, “Joanne makes a huge impact on other 3-Day participants. She is very encouraging and a wealth of information to first time walkers.”
Joanne’s J-Walkers teammate Maria said, “She’s everyone’s teammate. If she’s walking, you’ll never walk alone. If not, she might be hanging out a window ready to help you into her decked out, very inviting sweep van.” Joanne’s friend Astrid agreed, saying “She is one of the most caring people I know. She always puts everyone in front of herself.”
Join us in congratulating and thanking Joanne for her extraordinary commitment to the Philadelphia 3-Day. And thanks, as always, to the entire Philadelphia 3-Day family for another spectacular year.
…but pretty much everyone entered with the enthusiasm of people who had just conquered over 12 miles of Day 1.
…and were rewarded with the warmest welcomes from the lunch medical crew.
Some families came out to reunite with their loved ones who were walking. This adorable little peanut and her baby cousin (along with their mommies) were there to see their dads, brothers who are walking in memory of their mom. 
While she waited for Daddy, this little darling hand-delivered candy to the other arriving walkers.
Sweep vans rolled through from time to time, delivering walkers and raising spirits…
…and of course, the lunch crew served up tasty food and drinks to their fellow 3-Dayers. 
Lunch is the perfect time for walkers to relax…
…cool off in the shade…
…catch up on social media and texts…
…snap some pics of teammates…
…stretch…
…fix up their feet for the second half of the day…
…or just enjoy a few minutes of quiet alone time.
Some walkers captured special memories with our “I’m keeping the promise for…” photo banner and props. 
And some friends from other crew teams stopped by to eat and kick back (hi there, pit stop 1 pirates!).
Oh, and remember those adorable girls? Their daddies finally made it to lunch, and it was the sweetest reunion we saw all day.
And of course, what 3-Day lunch stop would be complete without a spontaneous Youth Corps-led dance party?
