Sallie R. has walked 33 times over 19 years, contributing a lifetime total of more than $148,000 toward the breast cancer cause. An avid gardener and psychologist, her friend and teammate Courtney B. describes Sallie as “the definition of small but mighty. The strength she has, to not only fight her internal battles but to also ensure everyone around her is cared and loved for, is admired by all those who know her.” She walks alongside her friends and family on the team Wild Women Walking For A Cure and is always a light to her teammates and other 3-Dayers.  

“Her strength and courage inspire me and the rest of the Wild Women, including her daughter and granddaughter, to continue to support the 3-Day to one day live in a world without breast cancer.” ?Cait B. 

Get to know Sallie as we honor her as our 2023 San Diego 3-Day Milestone Award Winner! 

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

I fully recovered from my first battle with breast cancer in ’95 and was excited to have a way to give back to the cause. This was an amazing start to my love for the 3-Day. My daughter joined me that year, and on many walks since along with teammates who have become lifelong best friends. 

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

Raising money to help find the cures is certainly the driving force but I couldn’t have done it without the friendship and support of my family and teammates. Not only do family members walk with me, but the team itself can only be described as family. One of the founding members of our team, Wild Women Walking For A Cure, who we recently lost to breast cancer, would say that the 3-Days are addictive and contagious. Yes, indeed they are! 

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

I use the old-fashioned way… snail mail. I make sure my donation letters go out in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, I compose a letter that is very personal, sharing family events as well as personal challenges I have faced. For example, my husband is severely disabled, and I share his progress in my letter. I have built up a group of supporters who anticipate my letter and include their donation in their yearly contribution plan.  

I will send letters to people I barely know. I include every doctor, dentist, therapist, accountant, contractor, etc. You never know when they will respond that their mother or sister or brother, etc. has or had breast cancer and they thank me for the opportunity to help. I ask my donors to send me the names of who I can walk in honor and/or memory of which is how I discovered that my dentist had breast cancer. Additionally, I am persistent and send reminders by postcard and I always send a personalized Thank You postcard with a photo from the 3-Day. Yes, it is a lot of work. Yes, it works! 

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

As our current shirts say, “Every step is a story.”  

I love walking with my teammates, but I also love meeting new people and hearing their stories. This truly is the Pink Bubble. Take the time to listen to others, share your own story, and have FUN. Play games, sing songs, and take pride in the amazing task that you have accomplished. You have just raised a boatload of cash for such an important cause. As the years roll on and many walks later, I cherish the friendships that I have forged in different cities around the country with people I would not have otherwise met.  

What’s a fun fact about you? 

I like to think I’m a good gardener. I am happiest when I can dig, weed, plant, water, create, and design in the garden. I live with soil under my fingernails. In retirement, I have devoted a ton of energy into converting our landscape to native plants that I have started from seed. Everyone I walk with knows that I carry an assortment of plastic bags and markers to collect seeds and identify them. By the way, as a psychologist, I can say that gardening is the best therapy… and it’s free. 

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

Gosh, where to start? Although 60 miles is a daunting task, we are capable of so much more than we sometimes think. You will be repaid a zillion times over by being positive, kind, and patient. You won’t regret investing time and energy in relationships. I was definitely a slow learner about knowing your body and your limits, but I get it now! 

“Special. Strong. Supportive. Teammate. Gopher hunter. Survivor. Survivor again. Loving. Kind. Short. Crazy. Walker. Crazy Walker. Fundraiser. 60-Mile Walker. 1,920-Mile Walker. Over 30 3-Days. Funny. Funny without meaning to be. Caring. Dedicated. Amazing. Did I say short? Mom to others. Grandma to others. Best friend… so lucky to know her.” ?Les C.