San Diego Crew Impact Award Winner: Lynn C.

Meet Lynn C., our 2024 San Diego 3-Day Crew Impact Award Winner!

Since her first Susan G. Komen 3-Day® 17 years ago, Barbara has participated 28 times and has raised a lifetime total of over $70,000. For years she has served as Sweep and Shuttle Captain in Washington D.C., New England, Philadelphia, and San Diego, bringing her humor, pink hair and Boston accent wherever she goes!

“I first met Lynn 10 years ago when I was co-captain for the Philadelphia sweep team in 2014. She had that spunky attitude and was our go-to van during that event and ever since. I remember riding in a SAG [support and gear] bus with her and within five minutes she had both Mary and me laughing so hard we could hardly speak. She was a staple member of that Philly Sweep Team until they moved the event to New England. She even once tried her hand at being the captain, which of course she rocked, but her heart was to be with the walkers. Lynn has been doing two events a year since I’ve known her, one close to her home base, and the other she flies all the way across the country to go to, in San Diego. She certainly is one of the most valued members of the Sweep Team in both cities. She gives 100% to the team, shows up early to do special ops, stays out late to assist the last of the walkers into camp, drives through pouring rain, and gets lost in Sea World once in a while. To say she gives tired walkers a ride to the next pit stop is an understatement. What she really does is give them encouragement, a joke or two, an ear to hear their story and a lot of Pink Bubble love.” —Carolyn H.

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

In 2006, my?sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer. I wanted to do something big to help her and I saw the commercial for the New England 3-Day®. I signed up to do the 2007 event by myself even though my friends and family thought I was crazy. I believed in my heart it was a one and done event, but the love, support, stories and commitment to finding the cures was contagious. I wanted to make more friends, learn more about how I could help, and knew before the walk started on that early Friday morning, I was in it for life. I had been engulfed by the Pink Bubble and I didn’t want to leave.

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

I would meet more and more people going through treatment each year. I would look forward to seeing these friends year after year and sometimes those friends did not make it back for any more walks because of this disease. This would energize me to raise more money to find the cures. The longer I am involved, the more people I know have been diagnosed with breast cancer. This disease has infiltrated my family three times in the past few years. Sadly, it is my daughter’s generation on both sides of our family that have been affected. We lost one young, beautiful cousin who left a young family, and we now have two others who are fighting and thriving and beating this disease. How can I stop now? We are so close to the cures. I believe in my heart I will see the cures in my lifetime.

What is your favorite aspect of crewing the 3-Day?

I love supporting the walkers. Crewing is hard, days are long, sleep is fleeting, but knowing the walkers depend upon us to keep them fed, healthy and safe keeps me energized. Crew has one single goal each day; keep the walkers safe, keep them in a forward moving motion daily and get them safely to closing.

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

It is hard, it is fun, and they could not walk without our help. We are the fuel that keeps the walk moving each day. We are like the elves behind the scenes making it all look easy.

What’s a fun fact about you?

For the next three years, my favorite sports team is the University of Vermont Women’s Hockey —#ILOVEMYHOCKEYPLAYER. I have had people request a translator when they hear me talking but I only speak one language, it’s called “The Boston Accent.” Yes, I have pahked my cah in Hahvahd Yahd to watch TB12 play football with Best Buddies!

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

To be grateful for all my blessings and to give back and pay it forward.

Congratulations to our 2024 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day Top Fundraisers!

The 2024 Susan G. Komen Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day had 625 walkers and 220 crew members who raised $2.2 million in the fight against breast cancer. To wrap up Day 1, our top fundraisers were recognized Friday evening at the Bank of America Celebration of Champions. This year, Bank of America is donating $33,000 to the top fundraisers to jump start their 2025 fundraising efforts. Join us in congratulating these teams and individuals for their incredible achievements and contributions!

We kicked off the celebration by recognizing our crew, who raised a combined total of $78,000 at the 2024 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day! Our Top Individual Crew Fundraiser, Fee P., raised over $5,200 this year at her 21^st event in 10 years, with her lifetime total surpassing $50,000. She was rewarded with a $500 donation toward her 2025 Susan G. Komen 3-Day® fundraising thanks to our National Presenting Sponsor, Bank of America!

The Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day Youth Corps showed us that it’s never too early to make a difference, surpassing an outstanding $11,500 in the fight against breast cancer. Our Top Three Youth Corps Fundraisers demonstrated their commitment to spreading awareness and raising funds to end this disease once and for all. Chance J. raised over $1,500 for his second event and will receive a Komen 3-Day branded Hydro Flask as a token of our appreciation and to spread awareness wherever he brings it. First timers Bella D. and Emma G. were also celebrated for raising over $1,400 and $1,000, respectively. We are constantly blown away by Youth Corps’ commitment to the breast cancer cause.

Next up, the incredible Sweep & Shuttle crew was recognized for the more than $14,400 raised by all 24 members captained by Sandra J., making them the Top Crew Fundraising Team.

With our crew accounted for, we continued by celebrating our Rookie of the Year, Vicki E., who entered the Pink Bubble with gusto, raising more than $15,400 for her first 3-Day®! Bank of America gave her a head start on her 2025 fundraising with a $500 donation where we eagerly await seeing her next year! The crowd applauded Vicki for her contributions and tenacity to raise such a tremendous amount of money at her first event. What a way to kick off her Pink Bubble experience!

We then recognized our Top Individual Fundraiser, Stephanie C., for raising more than $67,000. In her sixteen years walking the 3-Day, she has single-handedly raised over $406,000 toward breast cancer research and treatment. This year, Stephanie’s team of two, Tulips for Tatas, was also awarded our Small but Mighty Team Award for raising an incredible $69,700.

We celebrated STEPS, our Top Fundraising Team, who raised more than $170,000 amongst their 84 team members captained by Sheryl C. and Dana B. In their fifteen years as a team, STEPS has raised an unbelievable $1.9 million at the 3-Day and team captain Sheryl leads every training walk by saying “Let’s go save lives and cure diseases!”

Whatever your fundraising goals for the 2024 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day, the effort you put in and the funds you raise are essential to ending this disease. On behalf of Bank of America and Susan G. Komen®, thank you for all that you do to help fight breast cancer!

November Pink Bubble Story of the Month: Lauren M.

“My mom was more than her diagnosis; she was a beacon of strength, love, and compassion to everyone who knew her.

“At just 34 years old, she discovered a small lump during a self-examination and was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite the fear and uncertainty, she faced her mastectomy and six months of chemotherapy with courage, all while caring for my 6-year-old sister and me, a 2½-year-old, and supporting my dad. Her strength and resilience saw her through, and after treatment, she was declared cancer-free and entered remission.

“True to her giving nature, once she regained her strength, my mom began volunteering at Victory in the Valley in Wichita, Kansas, helping other women navigate their own battles with breast cancer. However, in her fourth year of remission, the devastating news came: her cancer had returned.

“For five more years, my mom faced this relentless disease with grace, undergoing six different treatment protocols. She lost her hair and nails, but never her spirit. Even as a nurse, fully aware of the uphill battle she faced, she focused on teaching my sister and me about life, ensuring that we felt as normal and loved as possible despite her struggle.

“On November 2, 2000, at just 44 years old, my mom passed away. While she is no longer with us physically, her legacy of strength, kindness, and unwavering love lives on through my sister and me. We strive every day to carry forward the values she instilled in us, honoring the extraordinary woman who taught us what it means to live fully, love deeply, and persevere through even the most difficult challenges.”

“My friend, Sonia, is a survivor. She asked me to join her in this experience and I couldn’t be more grateful to have walked alongside her and our incredible team, STEPS. Being surrounded by such inspirational people—men and women who have given years of their lives to this cause—was deeply moving. Walking alongside people who were on their 36th walk or were tackling all four events this year was remarkable. It left me feeling like I’ll never be able to let a year go by without being involved in some way. Whether walking, cheering, or volunteering, I know I want to be part of this incredible community. Seeing the strength and resilience of the survivors and hearing their stories made a profound impact on my heart. Their courage is something I’ll carry with me always.”