Monthly Archives: February 2025

Cold Weather Fundraising Tips

A participant at the San Diego 3-Day

With the colder months upon us, there are still a lot of ways to fundraise for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® event without leaving the comfort of your home! Whether you’re hosting a movie night with family and friends or sharing a fundraising update via email or social media while you’re cozied up on your couch, your efforts will make an impact.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Birthday: In lieu of a gift for your birthday, ask your friends and family on Facebook to make a donation to your 3-Day fundraising efforts.

Email Chain: Ask everyone to forward your fundraising email to 10 more people!

Profile Photos: Change your Facebook profile or cover photo to a 3-Day image. Get one at The3Day.org/Logos or pull it from our 3-Day Facebook page. Then ask for donations in your status updates!

Facebook App: Boost your fundraising efforts and promote your participation in the 3-Day by fundraising with Facebook. Add the 3-Day Facebook app to your Facebook page and use it to post regularly. Your posts will automatically include a link directly to your fundraising page.

Corporate Matching: Ask your company if they have a Corporate Matching Program and take advantage of that if you can. Search our database to see if your company offers a matching gifts program. Many of your donors may also work for companies that have a program like this, so their donation could double simply by filling out a form from their human resources department and following the steps to submit a matching gift. Remind them to check with their company as well!

Corporate Sponsor Shirt: Identify one corporate sponsor that you can ask for a large donation. Offer to wear their shirt for advertising while training and on the event.

Winter Movie Night: Organize a movie night with your favorite and encourage attendees to bring their coziest blankets and pajamas. Sell tickets for entry and offer concessions like popcorn, hot cocoa and other snacks.

Ask your neighbors: Write a note to all of the neighbors on your block or in your apartment building to ask for donations. Include an update on your training and fundraising progress.

We hope these fundraising ideas help you reach your goal! Stay motivated, and remember, every donation brings us one step closer to a world without breast cancer.

Don’t forget! We also have a long list of year-round strategies in our 101 Fundraising Ideas!

 

 

 

 

How Breast Cancer Research Changed a 3-Day Coach’s Life

Ann Vondriska

Ann Vondriska is a breast cancer survivor and coach for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.

Terrifying. That’s how Ann Vondriska described the seven weeks it took for doctors to diagnose her with breast cancer after she discovered a swollen lymph node in 2006. 

“It was terror while I waited for the results,” recalled Ann, who was 49 at the time and a mother to three children. “I did all sorts of testing. First, they thought it was brain cancer, then ovarian, thyroid, uterine, pancreatic. It was a nightmare.” 

Eventually, the diagnosis was clear. It was breast cancer. Ann endured 16 rounds of chemotherapy, breast surgery and radiation over the course of a year and a half. She was also set to receive 40 more rounds of chemotherapy. But then, a call from her oncologist brought good news. Thanks to research funded by Susan G. Komen at the University of Michigan, a new treatment plan was developed for her type of breast cancer.  

The new regimen meant fewer treatments. Ann now needed just one chemotherapy infusion every three weeks, cutting her original treatment schedule from 40 rounds to 14.   

“It literally changed my life,” Ann said. “I had kids at home. My daughter was 8 at the time, and there was so much involved every time I had to leave the house for chemo. It was the driving there, the parking, sitting in the chair, getting hooked up to the IV and looking at everyone around you. It was a lot.”  

Ann Vondriska and her daughter

Ann and her daughter, Elizabeth, at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day in Chicago.

Ann took another step forward in her journey in 2010 when a friend formed a team to walk in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® in her honor. “It was one of the most humbling moments of my life,” she said. The following year, Ann and her daughter, Elizabeth, joined the 3-Day themselves, and Ann didn’t look back. 

Now, she’s a coach for 3-Day walkers and is dedicated to mentoring them though training for the walk, giving advice on fundraising strategies and encouraging them along the way. 

Ann says being a part of the 3-Day is more than just walking—it’s about helping to support people who are navigating their own path through breast cancer and supporting the very research that saved her life. 

“My job now is to pay it forward,” Ann said. “For the rest of my life I am going to fundraise, coach and support the 3-Day and Komen because it changed my life.”  

The 2025 Komen 3-Day events will be held in Denver (Aug. 1-3), New England (Aug. 15-17), Dallas/Fort Worth (Oct.24-26) and San Diego (Nov. 14-16). 

To register for one of the 3-Day events, visit the 3-Day.

Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their health care provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment. 

Denver Awaits: Join Us for the Impactful 3-Day

Blush skies over the city of Denver which hosts the Susan G. Komen 3-Day(R)

This summer, the beautiful city of Denver will be the first stop in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® series, and we want YOU to be a part of it. When you arrive on Aug. 1, you’ll be immersed in the Pink Bubble, a vibrant community well known for its spirit of hope, remembrance and celebration. 

The 3-Day is an up to 60-mile journey where participants walk for themselves, for loved ones or for people they may not know but whose experience with breast cancer they want to honor.  

While Denver can see temperatures in the summer reach the 90s, Nancy Partridge, a breast cancer survivor and advocacy ambassador for the Komen Center for Public Policy, says the Mile High City is the perfect backdrop for the 3-Day’s memorable experience. 

“In Boulder it’s a real treat. It’s a quaint, quirky, little college town that is set up against the Flatirons, which is some of the most beautiful mountains that you will see up close and personal,” Nancy, who lived in the city for 20 years, explained. “Denver is shaded by high rises, and in Boulder, most of the route is shaded by trees. So, when you feel the sunshine on your face, it feels good.”  

Nancy and her teammate, Andrea Casillas, at the Denver 3-Day.

Nancy and her teammate, Andrea Casillas, at the Denver 3-Day.

However, with Denver’s high altitude (5,280 feet above sea level), Nancy emphasized the importance of being prepared. “It’s important for walkers to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and eat foods high in potassium like avocado and cantaloupe.”   

The Denver 3-Day isn’t just about the walk; it’s also about the impact. In 2024, 700 walkers and 220 crew members gathered in Denver and raised $2.3 million to support breast cancer research, education, advocacy and patient support services. Tracey Bahlo has participated in the 3-Day more than 20 times to honor her sister, a two-time breast cancer survivor, as well as others touched by breast cancer. She says it’s an incredible experience.   

Tracey Bahlo has walked the Susan G. Komen 3-Day 22 times.

Tracey Bahlo has walked the Susan G. Komen 3-Day 22 times.

“It raises money for meaningful research and support, and provides hope,” Tracey said. “Every year at the San Diego 3-Day, there’s a woman with a sign that reads, ‘People like you saved me.’ That’s why I walk.” 

Whether you’re a Colorado native or visiting for the first time, the 3-Day offers a new perspective on Denver. The route highlights some of the city’s most scenic spots—from Boulder’s hilly streets to iconic landmarks like Coors Field and the famous 40-foot blue bear at the convention center.  

Nancy and her friend, Kate Ahnen, who met at the Denver 3-day.

With warm weather likely in August, Tracey recommends some tips to stay cool: “Start walking early and wear a long sleeve, light weight shirt. The sun on your skin will be hotter. And don’t forget to wear an ice wrap around your neck!” 

Since it began in 2003, the 3-Day series has welcomed more than 500,000 participants and raised more $915 million. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this amazing journey. Visit the 3-Day today to register for Denver!