Philadelphia Coaches’ Favorite 3-Day Memories

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We are just days away from the 2017 Philadelphia 3-Day, and the excitement is building in the City of Brotherly Love! That excitement is especially pouring out of our coaches; Tisho, Joanne and Emily can’t wait to host all this year’s walkers. They are sharing that enthusiasm with us by remembering 3-Days past, revealing their favorite spots along the route and in their city.

2013 Philly Pit One Pajama Party

What are your favorite memories of the Philadelphia 3-Days past?

Coach Tisho: In 2011, it was the first year I walked Philly and my husband’s first year on the Route Safety Crew Team. We didn’t know a soul there and I hadn’t joined a team yet so we went to dinner on Thursday night with a bunch of the Route Safety crew members he’d met at his crew kick-off meeting. They were the most welcoming bunch. The entire walk I would see them at intersections and they would say “Hey it’s Stu’s Wife!” Total embodiment of City of Brotherly Love. We’re still friends with almost all those crew members.

And then also, cheering the walkers in at the Participant Finish Area last year (my first year as a Philly Coach). Such fun to see people I had been working with all season complete their walk!

Coach Emily: I loved the 150^th event celebration last year, and I love seeing familiar faces out on the route!

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What are your favorite spots on the route this year?

Tisho: I love all the cute towns we walk through – Ardmore and Chestnut Hill are the first two that come to mind. Great little villages that really welcome our walkers.

Emily: I love walking through Chestnut Hill and walking along the Schuylkill River.

Coach Joanne: You can’t help but love boathouse row and the Rocky steps. But I do love going past Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. It just evokes images of days gone by.

What can 20-mile walkers look forward to especially?

Joanne: I think joining the 3-Day as a 20-mile walker is an awesome stepping stone to a full 3-Day experience. Being able to come to camp Saturday night and then walk into the Closing Ceremony should and hopefully will inspire the walkers to sign up right there and then for the whole shebang!

2012 DC with Liz

Tell us a great Crew memory!

Tisho: The first year that I crewed in Philly (2013) I was the captain for Pit Stop 1. All but one member of our crew was completely new and we had no idea what we were doing but we had such a fun time! And I’m proud to say were highly successful in putting on one heck of a Pit One Pajama Party!

In 2012 I crewed my first 3-Day in DC. My cousin Liz, who was 12 (and just 7 when we lost her mom, my Aunt Barbara, to breast cancer) was on the Youth Corps. She loved every minute of it and we had the most magical bonding experience that weekend. I was asked to carry the Aunt flag at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and at Closing we could bring one person on stage to join us and Liz came out with me. I’ve shed a lot of tears at the 3-Day but never as many as I did on that stage. Seeing my brave girl in front of all those people, honoring the memory of her mother. It fills me with pride just thinking about it.

Joanne: I was the co-captain in 2008 of Pit Stop 3. Boy was that an eye opener! When you’re a walker, you just take for granted that the western shelters magically appear and that the water and Gatorade fill themselves up in the containers! But the best part of that day was getting some Mummers to come out and do some photo ops with us. I will never forget it.

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What are you looking forward to most for this year’s walk?

Tisho: The new route! There are so many exciting changes and new venues! And I really love that we are bringing our awareness message to a whole new set of communities. Awareness is such a critical part of this event.

Joanne: This year we have three brand new routes and I’m most curious for the feedback! I think Melanie (on our production staff) did a bang-up job creating a wonderful experience for our walkers and crew and I hope they’re as excited about it as I am!

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What are your favorite spots in Philly to eat, visit and play?

Joanne: If you get a chance, go to Villa di Roma on 9^th Street. Awesome Italian restaurant (obviously). Also, if you love chocolate, don’t miss Max Brenner’s. That’s in Center City not far from City Hall!

Tisho: I love all kinds of food so Reading Terminal Market is like heaven to me!

What are your favorite memories from Philadelphia 3-Days past? What are you looking forward to most for this year? Tell us in the comments!

Twin Cities Coaches’ Memories and Favorite Spots

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For those who are Minnesota-bound for this weekend’s Twin Cities 3-Day, there is plenty to be excited about! You’ve already met your Twin Cities 3-Day coaches, and all of them are so excited to welcome this year’s group of walkers, crew, Youth Corps, volunteers and supporters to the route.

To keep your mood high and your feet stepping, we asked the team for some of their favorite memories of the Twin Cities 3-Day. Their answers are sure to have you smiling, and will make you more than ready for 60 miles this weekend.

What are your favorite memories of the Twin Cities 3-Days past?

Coach Kiki Setterlund: I always enjoy the weather-related memories. Crazy, right? Having to relocate or cut off a part of the route due to excessive heat or torrential downpours can bring out the worst in people, but they also bring out the best. It’s where we truly shine as one big pink community. We come together, put a plan in place and get it done. It warms my heart to see people taking care of each other!

Coach Stephanie Mayer: Happy memories for me are always the Opening and Closing Ceremonies- I love the energy and emotion and being in that moment with our participants and crew members.

Tell us a great Crew memory!

Kiki: As a Crew & Volunteer Coordinator, you meet with your captains each day on-event. You rehash how the day went. What was great? What didn’t work so well? How do we make tomorrow better than today (not just for the walkers but for the crew as well)? During one meeting at camp a few years ago, I poured each captain a mocktail, put an umbrella in their drink and before chatting, we sat on top of the hill and looked down at our campsite. It was bustling with activity and for a moment (a very quick moment) we could witness all that we created together. In silence. And it was awesome.

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And what about the Youth Corps?

Coach Dana Dalpra: Every time I see the Youth Corps volunteers, I get goose bumps. I just love these kids. I’m so proud of them and their families for supporting them to learn about what it means to be hands on for such an important cause. I can only imagine how big of an impact this experience is making in their lives and they probably don’t even know it yet. I could squeeze each and every one of them. Their smiles are contagious and their hard work is truly appreciated. I’m just so proud of them.

Stephanie: My daughter Ava was part of the Youth Corps last year for the first time. She was the Top Youth Corps fundraiser, raising $1325. She was awarded a special cape to wear all weekend. She participated in honor of my mom, her nana. I LOVED having her on the event and seeing her out on the route with all the other kids. She is hooked big time on the 3-Day and this cause. She hopes to be a walker herself someday.

What are you looking forward to most for this year’s walk?

Dana: It has been such a blessing to connect with the 3-Day again and now coach for the Twin Cities. It feels great to be back with the 3-Day family again. I missed them!

Kiki: Seeing the whole team back in action. The walkers, crew members, day volunteers and staff. It’s so fun to see everyone greet each other at the beginning of a new season.

For out-of-towners, what are your favorite spots in the Twin Cities to eat and play when you’re not on the 3-Day route?

Kiki: Sea Change is near the route, and located within the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. It’s near the Stone Arch Bridge and Gold Medal Park. If you want the epitome of Minneapolis, this is your area. Gorgeous views, parks, food and entertainment. You can’t go wrong!

Spoon & Stable is also near the route. Amazing! Food, drinks, ambiance and the service. If you want to see Minnesota at its best, grab dinner here!

I also love lots of spots along the Day 1 and Day 3 routes that get into the heart of Minneapolis and St. Paul. There are so many amazing places to grab food and drinks so keep an eye out!

Stephanie: My all-time favorite place in the summer is W.A. Frost located in St. Paul. We love their patio! Each year it gets voted best patio in the Twin Cities because it’s so pretty. I also got married here so that’s another reason why I love it so much.

A trendier spot is The Commodore, a historical St. Paul building that was recently renovated. It’s beautiful. Pezzaluna, The St. Paul Grill and Kincaids are fun as well. All of these that I’ve mentioned are either walking distance or a short cab ride from our camp hotel so be sure to try one of them when you’re here!

Note: Coach Stephanie and Coach Dana won’t be present throughout the entire event at the 3-Day this year due to personal circumstances, but they will both be making an appearance to cheer on all of the Twin Cities walkers.

2017 Susan G. Komen Michigan 3-Day Wrap-up

On Friday morning of our first 2017 3-Day, the sky cleared for a bright blue sunrise at Walled Lake Western High School. Our 350 Michigan 3-Day walkers had perfect walking weather to start their 60-mile journey that began with a poignant Opening Ceremony led by local participants.

The first pit stop, at Bayside Grille, was right along the water at mile 2.7, giving all our walkers great views and photo opportunities with our Boo Bees pit crew and volunteers. From there, they visited Pit 2 at Meadowbrook Elementary School after a brisk 6.4 miles of walking. Then, after 11.2 miles, the walkers got a rest and lunch break (including salads this year!) at Meadowbrook Congregational Church. They stretched, refueled and relaxed on our new pink Mohawk mats, which were a favorite for our first picnic lunch.

After lunch, the next pit stop was Dr. Seuss-themed at Christ Presbyterian Church at mile 14.6. And oh the places the walkers would go after that! With brains in their heads and feet in their shoes, they headed off through the cheering station at Novi High School, and on to pit stop 4 at mile 17.

The first day finished at Novi Middle School for dinner, camp and relaxing. Friday had seen our walkers trek 19.3 miles in record time, so everyone took advantage of the Bank of America massage chairs, trail mix bar, relaxation areas and other treats.

At camp, survivor speaker Pala Liske gave a deeply personal and heartwarming speech, thanking all the walkers who had come before her. Bank of America then honored Top Team Fundraiser, The Hines Pink Pathers, as well as Top Individual Fundraiser Mary Ann Isaac, who raised more than $29,000 this year. Gary Bertolini was our Top Crew Fundraiser, and we also celebrated the 68 walkers who are celebrating 10 or more years on the 3-Day. Together, these 68 walkers have raised $3.4 million in their lifetime!

Later, Jim Hillmann received the Milestone Award for his 10 years and 50 events on the 3-Day. He has raised $153,004 in his time on the 3-Day and received resounding applause from his fellow walkers. In addition, Dan Sinclair won the Local Impact Award thanks to his 14 years, 40 events, and $23,623 lifetime raised. Everyone went to sleep that night inspired!

Day 2 started off with sunshine as the walkers sailed in to their longest day of walking for the weekend. At mile 3.5, they stopped at Thornton Creek Elementary School, they hit up pit stop 1 to stock up on grahamwiches and orange slices. Pit stop 2 saw our walkers visiting the western-themed Wild Wild Breast at mile 7.8 for the day at beautiful Cass Benton Park.

During lunch at the Plymouth Cultural Center, we met our Youth Corps to learn why, and for whom, each of them walked. Leaving lunch, the walkers had already stepped through 11 miles for the day!

Our first cheering station on Saturday was at the iconic Kellogg Park in downtown Plymouth. At mile 11.8, the walkers came upon a photo favorite: the pink fountain! The community turned out in full force with music, cheering and plenty of opportunities for selfies.

Then there was a second cheering station at Cook School, and the Treasure Breast pit stop 4 at mile 19.4 at Spillane & Reynolds Orthodontics. This pit stop came complete with a two-person pirate ship, Captain Jack Sparrow photo op and lots of other booty-ful treats to propel our walkers through the last few miles of the day.

After 22.3 miles, our walkers came home to camp back at Novi Middle School, where the local cheerleading squad and football teams were on hand to welcome our final walker in. After that, walkers dug into everyone’s favorite 3-Day meal: macaroni and cheese! During and after dinner, walkers could listen to performances by local musical acts, as well as play games with their friends and family. For extra fun for the friends and family, there were also local food trucks and even a Bank of America mini golf course on hand. Plenty of fun was had before everyone turned into their cozy pink tents for the night.

Sunday morning began with more sunshine, and our walkers kicked off their last day at Kennedy Elementary School. The 3-Dayers walked through Livonia, Westland, and Dearborn Heights throughout the morning, logging 7.9 miles before they arrived at pit stop 2. There they were greeted by cheerleaders, complete with pink pom poms!

Before lunch at mile 10.8, the walkers passed through a huge community cheering section! A whole neighborhood came out to cheer our walkers on, take photos, and help give an extra pep in their step as they arrived at York Park for lunchtime.

With only a few miles to go, the walkers breezed through pit stop 3 at Lizzie’s Pasture to arrive at Ford World Headquarters. After completing 15.5 miles on Day 3, our Michigan 3-Day walkers had arrived at the finish line!

Their journey is never truly done, though, as was evidenced in our closing ceremony. We are all still working, and walking towards Susan G. Komen’s Bold Goal to reduce the nation’s 40,000 breast cancer deaths by 50 percent by 2026. Our 350 walkers and 250 crew members made great strides this weekend, raising more than $1.1 million towards the cause, much of which will go directly back to the local Michigan community efforts.

As we hugged and celebrated and danced in the sun, one message rang loud and clear; that though our feet may ache, our spirit and dedication will live forever; through aches, and pain, and blisters. We are shouting loudly and proudly that in this fight, where we seek to live in a world free of breast cancer, WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP. Thank you, Michigan. We are so very proud of each and every one of you.