November Pink Bubble Story of the Month – Debra E.

Every year, thousands of philanthropic individuals come together in cities across the country to walk 20, 40, or 60 miles, united by a common goal—making a significant impact in the fight against breast cancer. Amongst those in the ocean of pink this year was Debra E., a breast cancer survivor who participated in her first ever 3-Day this year in Denver, both as a crew member and 1-Day walker. We met with Debra who shared her personal journey, reflecting on how this experience deeply touched her heart.

Last year, Debra heard about the 3-Day on a Facebook post which prompted her to become involved with Susan G. Komen both locally and with the 3-Day. Inspired by her own survivorship, her grandmother and several close friends who have battled breast cancer, she decided to participate in the 2022 Susan G. Komen Denver More Than Pink Walk. Having loved her experience at that event, she signed up for the 3-Day to further contribute to the cause.

As a first-time 3-Dayer and combination crew member and walker, Debra was unsure of what to expect, but was blown away by her experience. She was able to make friends with both crew and walkers, so while walking on Day 3, crew members that she met in days prior were cheering her on along the route and at the finish line. Recounting her first-time laying eyes on the sea of people who were all there to support survivors, thrivers, and those walking for loved ones that could not, the feeling was indescribable. “Everyone had a smile and supportive words, and it was so infectious,” she shared. “Walking was a very supportive experience. Even when I struggled because I had a knee injury, I was still getting encouragement and support from everyone in the Pink Bubble!”

Participating in the 3-Day necessitates both physical and mental preparation. To adequately prepare for the monumental event, Debra took advice that veteran walkers shared on the Facebook pages and during the online Social Hours. She went on training walks and fundraised through social media and by emailing everyone she could think of.

Debra recalls her favorite moments of the Denver 3-Day meeting the incredible walkers and crew members, and that seeing her loved ones as she crossed the finish line was particularly humbling. Her advice to anyone who is hesitant to sign up is “Just do it! It may sound very daunting, but I expect that you will get caught up in the excitement and won’t even notice the miles go by.” Having loved her experience at the 3-Day, Debra has signed up to crew/walk the 2024 Denver and crew San Diego 3-Day.

It’s people like Debra who make the 3-Day possible and such a rewarding experience. It is about so much more than walking, but coming together to do something challenging as we raise funds to advance breast cancer research, treatment, and awareness. In Debra’s very own words, “We [walk to] raise money so that we can eradicate breast cancer FOREVER!”

See previous Pink Bubble Story of the Month blog posts here.

Honoring Native American Heritage Month with 3-Day Walker Tweet B.

November is federally recognized as National Native American Heritage Month to honor and celebrate the rich cultures, traditions, history, and societal contributions of American Indian and Alaska Natives. This lends us the opportunity to become more educated about Native Americans and increase our knowledge of unique challenges faced by this population, including health inequities. Breast cancer does not affect all women the same and at Susan G. Komen, we believe these inequities must end. We’re striving to make this the moment that changes everything.

We connected with 12-time 3-Day walker Tweet B., a Dine’ woman from the Navajo Nation who walks on Mother Earth. Her heritage, culture, beliefs, and language are core to who she is both on and off the 3-Day route. Throughout all avenues of her life, Tweet has learned to live in two worlds; the Dine’ world, and the “white man” world. From her job to her family, and her friends to her faith, she carries aspects of both worlds in all her thoughts and all that she does. “I was Dine’ (Navajo) before I became American,” she shared.

At the 2023 Denver 3-Day, Tweet shared her reason for walking with a speech at the Opening Ceremony. She began by speaking her native Navajo language, which caused the room to fall silent as she honored her ancestors in such a powerful way. She shared her story as to why she walks in honor of her grandmother, BFF, and “sole” sister who have all lost their lives to cancer. Her commitment to finding the cures began in 1995 when her beloved grandmother Jean passed away, and was amplified when her BFF, Kathleen, passed in 2006. Most recently, a fellow 3-Day walker and “sole” sister died, hitting her hard and deeply.

For all 12 3-Day walks that she’s participated in, Tweet’s immediate family and friends have supported her either in person or through generous donations. She loves seeing her personal cheerleaders along the trail, including her husband and two sons who have grown to love the color pink. However, her biggest source of inspiration at each walk is her 84-year-old mother, MaryAnn, who keeps Grandma Jean’s memory alive. We met with Tweet’s mother on the route this year who spoke to us about the importance of their culture. As we parted ways, MaryAnn bid us Hágoónee, a Navajo farewell which roughly translates to “see you later” since they believe that we will all meet again.

Tweet tries to make trips back to the motherland whenever possible in order to smell the inside of a hogan (a traditional Navajo home), see the landscape, eat the food, hear the language, and get whisked away by the music. “I wish the world would understand our existence in the world,” she opened up to us. “We have always been here, we never left. The indigenous people are more than the history books and what Hollywood portrays us to be. We are people who live simply yet are abundant with culture. We have heroes, we have goals, we have dreams.”

In all her experience on 12 3-Days, Tweet can only remember seeing two other Native women on the pink trail. One was a walker who she never had the opportunity to meet and the other was a survivor, cheering on the walkers. “I often wonder why there are not more Native women on these walks,” she shared with us.

Tweet went on to share that many Dine’ who are diagnosed with breast cancer are usually in the later stages of the disease, likely because they are less educated about the signs of early detection. In fact, in 2021 (most recent data available, though data were limited), American Indian women and Alaska Native women had lower rates of breast cancer screening compared to other women [162]. Tweet also noticed that many people from her culture must travel far distances to medical centers which are located off the reservation, therefore, time and money are obstacles to screening and treatment.

Susan G. Komen found that among women ages 50–74, only 59% of American Indian and Alaska Native women had a mammogram in the past two years compared to 82% of Black women and 76% of white women [162]. One reason for these differences in screening rates may be access to care. American Indian and Alaska Native women tend to live in areas that require traveling a long distance to get health care, including screening mammography [137]. “I would love to see an SGK mammogram trailer on the reservation somewhere, scheduling appointments for free. Early detection can save lives!” Tweet shared.

Since breast cancer is the most common cancer among American Indian and Alaska Native women [155], Tweet hopes to pass on her teachings, her culture, her being, and her strength to her two sons and to increase care to those in her community. She hopes that her legacy is strong and pink.

“I am a Dine’ woman who walks on Mother Earth. I will honor my ancestors who walked before me. I will continue to learn, to teach, to speak, to listen, to grow, to give and to love. My grandmother’s legacy lives within me. She is why I am a pink warrior.” —Tweet B.

To learn more about the racial and ethnic disparities in breast cancer outcomes and Susan G. Komen’s mission to lessen the gaps, visit https://www.komen.org/about-komen/our-impact/breast-cancer/health-equities-initiative/

Debby R. is the 2023 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day Milestone Award Winner!

After 10 years and 26 3-Days, Debby R. has raised a lifetime total of more than $65,000 to help find the cures to breast cancer. Affectionately known as Mama Bear by her team Angels for the Cure, Debby is one of the most creative fundraisers that the Pink Bubble has ever seen. Her beloved teammate Bill W. shared that “It does not matter if you are on another team, you can train or fundraise with Angels for a Cure!” She fundraises with car washes, Sonic car hopping, Dippin’ Dots, Muddin’, Rednecks with Paychecks and beyond, always coming up with fun ways to help everyone achieve their fundraising goals. “I was always in awe and sometimes jealous of the ideas and ways she came up with to raise money… she is there to win this fight and to help anyone who needs help to get their money raised,” boasted her friends Donna W. and Sharon R.

Get to know Debby a bit better as we honor her as our 2023 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day Milestone Award Winner!

What was your inspiration to participate in your first 3-Day???

My mom was first diagnosed [with breast cancer] in 2002 and started her treatments in 2003. I heard radio advertisements about the 3-Day for a couple of years, but I was first scared away in 2005 when the Dallas/Fort Worth event was in June and I had a 6-month-old. Then in 2006, I was scared away because I was intimidated by the fundraising goal. At the beginning of 2007, my mom sent me an email (an email, really???) to let me know her cancer was back and had metastasized to her lungs. I knew then I couldn’t sit on the sidelines anymore, so I went to an info meeting and signed up for my very first event!

What has brought you back to the 3-Day year after year?

Like so many others before and more to come, I was terrified that first year that I wouldn’t be able to walk all 60 miles. I waited until the last minute before making the decision to sign up again, but being in the Pink Bubble for three days, meeting new friends and hearing their stories, passing through the cheer stations, getting hugs from a stranger as a thanks for helping to save his wife’s life, how could anyone walk away from all of this? The first walk was for my mom, but every walk afterwards has been for my future, my daughter, my nieces, my sisters, my friends, my Pink Bubble family, and for the next person diagnosed, to give a glimmer of hope for a future.

What is the secret to your 3-Day fundraising success?

I come up with a lot of ideas and sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. I just keep trying and stick with what works well for me and my team.

What is your best advice to anyone walking the 3-Day?

Train and fundraise with a team. It could be your team or join an existing one, but when you train and fundraise with others, it’s a better experience.

What’s a fun fact about you?

One time at band camp… yes, I was in band. I was on the flag corps and drill team while in high school for football and concert season. I played the auxiliary percussion instruments (cymbals, bass drum, triangle, bells, xylophone) because I could count and couldn’t read music… LOL

What are the most important lessons you’ve learned on the 3-Day?

You are never alone on the 3-Day. We are all on the same team to eradicate breast cancer.