Please join us in congratulating our 2018 Atlanta Milestone Award Winner; Carol Ann Payne-Johnson! The Susan G. Komen 3-Day® Milestone Award is given at each event to a walker or crew member who has an outstanding history of participation in the Komen 3-Day. At the Atlanta 3-Day camp show, we presented Carol Ann with this special honor.

Her friend David Schwarz said he has had “the honor of knowing Carol Ann for many years. She has a contagious love of life and endless compassion for others. It is my absolute pleasure to be able to honor her in any way I can, for all she does, especially her daily acts of kindness that most people never see.”

Friend Cathy Dorfman added that, “Carol Ann is AMAZING. Having been diagnosed with stage 2 BC I cannot tell you how much I appreciate her unwavering support and dedication to finding a cure.   It is awe inspiring and the commitment she has made and kept even more so – we need many more like her to defeat this killer.”

We also heard from Carol Ann in her own words. We she answered our questions, she didn’t know yet that she’d be receiving this award!

What was your inspiration to do your first 3-Day?

I work in our 24- hour prayer room at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. 19 years ago, in April of 1999, I received 14 requests for prayer from ladies with a breast cancer diagnosis in one day! I just couldn’t get that off my heart and mind, and I prayed about how I might do more – God always answers prayer, and literally, within three days, I had a flyer about the 3- day Avon ( at the time) walk, and signed up to do it.

What brings you back year after year?

I hope to continue walking until breast cancer is eradicated!

Tell us the secret to your fundraising success! 

I have many corporate clients and friends, and they are very generous because they all have someone they know and love who have or have not survived breast cancer. In my fundraising letter, I always remind them of the latest statistics, and ask them to name someone or more  than one they are donating on behalf of. I then walk with those names on my backpack on pink ribbons, then send the pink ribbon to the person named with a hand-written note. People are very grateful for the personal touch.

Give your best advice to anyone walking 3-Day.

Buy good shoes, train, and be prepared to hear stories that will motivate you to walk year after year.

What’s a fun fact about you?

I have been in 109 countries, and one year, I trained on all seven continents! Plus, I’m a crack shot at archery ?

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned on 3-Day?

It is a blessing in my own life to serve others this way.   We must all understand how important it is to be kind to others even in an anonymous way, and that every conclusion in research that can save a life is worthwhile.