Common First-Time Walker Worries … Debunked!

Two women showing their "This is my first 3-day" button in 2024.

Whether you’re already registered or are thinking about joining your very first Susan G. Komen 3-Day®, welcome to the Pink Bubble!

Signing up is a big commitment, and we’re sure that you have a lot of questions, worries and maybe even second thoughts. Regardless of what’s going through your head, we’re here to support you from the day you register to the memorable moment you step across that finish line. We like to say that the support we offer matches the commitment you’re making!

Remember, everyone who’s ever walked the 3-Day started exactly where you are right now—full of questions and anticipating an event that is unlike anything else you’ve experienced. There’s a reason why so many walkers come back year after year, and we’re excited for you to be a part of it.

To help manage your expectations and quell any lingering anxieties, we’ve debunked some common first-time walker concerns so that you can strut into the Pink Bubble with confidence!

“60 miles is way too far for me to walk.”

We get it, 60 miles is a lot, and it is hard … but, as you’ll hear a lot on the 3-Day, it’s not as hard as breast cancer.

You’ll be surprised by how far you can push yourself when you set your mind to it and are surrounded by like-minded people who encourage you every step of the way. It’s a big challenge, and because of that, it will inspire your donors to give big when they support you.

Participants of all ages and fitness backgrounds have been able to train for and successfully complete all 60 miles. But if you can’t walk all 60 miles, that’s OK, too! There are support vehicles (we call them sweep vans) along the route that will take you to the next stop if you need a break. How ever many miles you complete at the end of the day, you’ve raised the money and are helping end breast cancer!

If you’re still unsure, we offer 1, 2 and 3-Day walker options, allowing you some peace of mind if you want to dip your toe into the Pink Bubble before fully diving in.

A woman walking her first Susan G. Komen 3-Day in 2023.

“I don’t think I can meet the fundraising requirements.”

Fundraising for the first time may seem overwhelming, but we’re here to help! Your 3-Day coaches are your main point of contact for anything fundraising related and will help you every step of the way.

From goal-setting techniques to tips on reaching out to donors, we have plenty of resources to help you get where you need to be. All coaches have been (or currently are!) 3-Day walkers and can give you first-hand advice from what they’ve heard from the thousands of walkers we’ve supported.

Additionally, our city-specific Facebook groups are another great tool to connect with other walkers for fundraising advice. Get creative, ask everyone and never give up. You’ll hit your goals before you know it!

“I don’t even know how to get started with training.”

Much like fundraising, training may seem daunting at first. Our recommendation? Use our 24 or 16-week training plans and take it one step at a time.

Remember, the 3-Day is not a race, so your training shouldn’t be either. Start slow and follow the plan and you’ll slowly build up until you’re racking up miles you never thought were possible. For more tips on training, reach out to your coach, find a training walk near you and go at your own pace.

“I’m not very athletic.”

That’s OK! You’ll be in great company; at the 3-Day, everyone is welcome and encouraged to join. From avid walkers to those with physical limitations, every participant is given what they need to succeed. Simply show up exactly as you are, and we will do this together.

“Nobody will sign up with me.”

The 3-Day happily welcomes solo walkers, and we promise you’ll never feel alone. The Pink Bubble is a community of people who are all on the same team, walking together to find the cures.

Though you may arrive alone, you’ll leave part of something greater than you ever thought imaginable. Furthermore, your coach can help you find a team to join.

A button that says "This is my First 3-Day"

“I’ve never been affected by breast cancer.”

You certainly don’t need to have been directly affected by breast cancer to help find the cures. Whether we realize it or not, we’re all affected by this disease in some way, and the funds we raise at the 3-Day help to advance all forms of cancer research. Everyone is welcome at the 3-Day, and the Pink Bubble is waiting for you with open arms.

Do you have any other questions or concerns? Reach out to your 3-Day coach via Facebook or email and ask away. We look forward to helping you in any way we can.

We hope to see you at the 3-Day soon! Visit the 3-Day to register and learn more.

How the MORE THAN PINK Walk Led Me to the 3-Day

Nisha Jaime and her team, The Fight Club, at the MORE THAN PINK Walk in Los Angeles October 2023.

When I was diagnosed with HER2-positive invasive ductal carcinoma in 2022, I couldn’t help but cry—a lot. At 42, I was a busy mama of three, including twin boys, age 7, and a 4-year-old little girl recovering from her third open-heart surgery. The shock and sadness were overwhelming, but once I started to process my diagnosis I turned to social media for support. I wanted to find others who had been through what I was about to face, and who I could draw strength from. That’s when I found Susan G. Komen®.

Through social media posts, I found information about Komen’s MORE THAN PINK Walk® in Los Angeles, happening that fall, just months after my diagnosis. I remember telling myself: “Once I get better, I am going to do it.” And that’s exactly what I did.

The following year, I signed up, recruited a team of more than 50 members (made up of my family and closest friends) and we raised more than $5,100. The walk was inspiring and beautiful. But when it ended, I wished it could have been longer. I felt like there was more to experience, more to give. I felt such a connection with the Komen community, that I wanted to do more. I signed up for the MORE THAN PINK Walk again last year as a participant and a volunteer. It was as rewarding as my first walk, but again I wanted more time to meet more people and hear more inspiring stories of hope and resilience.

Then, last fall, I found out about the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®. I saw posts from participants on social media who walked the 60-mile journey, and I found their online videos of the Pink Bubble to be so full of support and strength. I was inspired. I knew right away that the 3-Day was exactly what I had been searching for. The 3-Day would give me more time with others who understand this journey, and it would give me an opportunity to do my part in helping end breast cancer.

So, this year, I signed up for the San Diego 3-Day. My fundraising and training are just getting started, but I’m committed. I currently walk two miles a day and I’ve been sharing my story on social media to help me reach my fundraising goal. I also have plans to host some garage sales in the spring and a lemonade stand with my children to get closer to my goal while spending time with my family.

While I plan to walk the entire 60 miles, I will be giving myself some grace at the 3-Day. I’m in my first year of survivorship and for me, every step is a win. I am so excited to experience the Pink Bubble firsthand and meet more survivors like me. The fear that comes after a breast cancer diagnosis has been overwhelming at times, but I know the 3-Day will be a safe, supportive space and I can’t wait for November to be here so I can head out to San Diego.

A lot of my friends have asked me why I want to take on such a big challenge so soon after being diagnosed. This is what I tell them: “I want to remind myself of everything I have overcome with chemotherapy, surgeries and radiation. I want to honor my loved ones I have lost to breast cancer. And I want to do whatever I can to help minimize the impact of breast cancer.”

And then, I invite them to join me at the 3-Day.

Whether you walk, volunteer or donate, I hope you’ll join me too.

Visit the 3-Day to register and learn more.

Bank of America Recognizes Rachel Brown’s Outstanding Fundraising Efforts for Susan G. Komen 3-Day®

Rachel Brown receiving her donation from Bank of America for being a top fundraiser of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.

Rachel receiving her $500 donation from Bank of America.

When Rachel Brown’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, she was immediately inspired after seeing an advertisement for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day ®, a 60-mile walk over the course of three days aimed at raising funds to help end breast cancer forever. Since then, Rachel has remained dedicated to the 3-Day, earning well-deserved recognition as a top fundraiser.

Rachel and her team, the Bouncin’ Buckeyes, have walked in the 3-Day since 2005 in various states. Rachel has completed an impressive 30 walks, often braving challenging conditions, including freezing temperatures and sideways rain in Dallas 2023, and sleeping in tents amid a rainstorm. Despite these obstacles, the team has stayed committed to supporting the 3-Day cause.

“We keep doing this because when we listen to the speakers talk about their breast cancer journeys at the opening and closing ceremonies and the walkers, it makes you realize you are making a difference,” Rachel said. “We always remember why we walk. It’s not easy to do the 3-Day, but we are really driven by wanting to make a difference.”

Rachel Brown and her team, the Bouncin' Buckeyes

Rachel and the Bouncin’ Buckeyes

To date, Rachel and the Bouncin’ Buckeyes have raised over $776,000 for the 3-Day. As an individual participant, Rachel has raised $371,461 since her first walk. Her remarkable efforts were celebrated at the 2024 San Diego 3-Day, where she was honored as the Top Individual Fundraiser at the Bank of America Celebration of Champions, earning $500 from Bank of America to support her 2025 fundraising goal.

Additionally, the Bouncin’ Buckeyes received the Small But Mighty Team Award for raising an incredible $78,500. Bank of America made a $500 donation to Rachel and her two team captains, to support their 3-Day fundraising efforts.

“When I think back to where we started and where we are now, it’s wild to see what we’ve accomplished,” Rachel said. “Receiving the Bank of America donations was awesome and really kicked-off our enthusiasm for the 2025 3-Day.”

Rachel and the Bouncin’ Buckeyes work tirelessly each year to reach their 3-Day goals. The team ranges in age from 23 to 72. Her mother, Carol, is a 20-year survivor who has walked in three 3-Days and been a crew member for 12 years. Her younger sister has also walked and crewed for the event, and her older sister supports the team at the events by making coffee runs, coordinating off-site lunches and making sure the team has everything they need to make it across the 3-Day finish line.

“There’s millions of people that could do this, but there are only thousands that will do it,” Rachel said about the 3-Day. “We are a unique and amazing group of people who do this because we want to help. If it were easy, everyone would do it.”

Rachel along the 3-Day route

Rachel says she is overwhelmingly grateful to the generous supporters who donate to her team year after year and make reaching the 3-Day fundraising goals possible.

Bank of America has been a Susan G. Komen ® partner since 2009, and serves as the National Presenting Sponsor of the Komen 3-Day ®, Race for the Cure ® and MORE THAN PINK Walk® events in the U.S. Bank of America also helps support Komen through its Pink Ribbon Banking Affinity products, which has raised over $14 million to date.

To learn more about the 3-Day visit the3day.org.

To donate to Rachel’s 3-Day fundraiser visit the3day.org/goto/rachelbrown2025.