Celebrating the 3-Day Youth Corps

We celebrated a special milestone in Boston this year. Our 3-Day Youth Corps marked its tenth year with yet another extraordinary group of selfless and kind young people who supported our walkers and crew members. In 2013, our Youth Corps members will be bringing their special spirit and energy to every 3-Day across the country!

Robin Maxcy was one of the founders of the Boston 3-Day Youth Corps. Robin was a 3-Day coach for the very first Boston 3-Day, and led the Youth Corps program for six years. She has kept in touch with some of her Youth Corps members of the years, and in 2011, she organized the first ever Boston Youth Corps alumni cheering station!

Robin was inspired to create the Youth Corps program after her first experience on the 3-Day, seeing how meaningful it was for the walkers, crew and volunteers. “I wanted to bottle it all up and offer everyone a dose of 3-Day experience. It’s life-changing! I met an incredible 3-Day family that year. They included their daughter, Jessica, in some of the 3-Day experience, it was apparent to her dad and me that we needed a place for young people on the 3-Day. So the Youth Corps was born. Over the last ten years the members of the 3-Day community have all worked together to make the Youth Corps Team what it is today.”

Boston3-Day Youth Corps members cheer on walkers along the route each day. One of their favorite duties.

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Thank You Cleveland!

“I can’t believe it!” quipped a walker at 6 a.m. on Friday morning. “It’s always raining during the Opening Ceremony in Cleveland and look at this!” Indeed, Dock 32 appeared pristine as the walkers gathered and the sun peeked above the beautiful city of Cleveland for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day^®. The dedicated community of supporters of the Komen 3-Day here were electrified by the stories of survivors and poured out onto the streets of Cleveland in excellent weather and even better spirits. (See photographs from the event here.)

A walker reaches pit stop 1, greeted by the cheering crew on the Cleveland 3-Day

After passing the stadiums of Cleveland and moving out near the lake’s edge west of the city, walkers pushed into the neighborhoods of Lakewood and Rocky River and towards Westlake Recreation Center, which would be home for the next two nights. Both singers and dancers entertained the crowd during dinner and during a great camp show. What a great way to end Day 1!

The last walker of Day 2 is greeted by Dr. Sheri and the camp after the raising of the flag

After what could be called no less than a torrential rain overnight, the resilient walkers set out their bedding to dry while they took on the 21.5-mile route on Day 2, complete with two cheerleading stations, many private companies and families (thank you!) and warm weather. Local dancers and singers again prepped the crowd for the evening, which included touching stories from participants, tributes to fundraisers, and fun games from sponsors New Balance and Bank of America.

The 2013 Cleveland 3-Day camp is illuminated at sunrise

With only a few showers overnight, the walkers were treated to an exceptional sunrise and a 16.9-mile route that led through the beautiful Valley Parkway. Special thanks to the friends, family and community who showed their support at some great cheering stations on Day 3! If the walkers were weary, they didn’t show it as they marched triumphantly into the Closing Ceremony amid cheers and hugs. The crowd fell silent as shoes were lifted high by the walkers in deference to those survivors of breast cancer in the Survivors’ Circle. The crowd went wild after the announcement of $1.3 million raised by Cleveland for the fight to end breast cancer. Thank you to the dedicated community of Cleveland!

The Bank of America tent relaxes walkers after a long day on the route

The last pink tent of the Cleveland 3-Day is taken down on Sunday morning

The cheerful team of “60 Miles of Smiles” glides through the route on Day 3

The influential team of “Breast Man Walking” finishes strong amid cheers and tears at the Cleveland 3-Day

Real Men Wear Pink (Or Nothing At All)

Carl B of the “60-Mile Men” poses in full regalia

Dangerous words from a group of rowdy supporters for finding the cure for breast cancer! I originally met Carl B. in Boston, sporting his classy and eye-catching pink “Batman meets Superman meets Captain Hook” outfit. His sash, however, gave him away as one of the elite men who made up the 60-Mile Men. These are no regular walkers, but men committed to modeling themselves for the cause, and walking and crewing for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day^®! Each walker or crew member has a photo shoot in either–you guessed it–pink or nothing at all. When I asked Ed this morning at pit stop 1 about the choice between wearing pink or nothing, he just smiled and said, “Well, we give you the choice, but you really can’t wear pink.”

Started by Matthew P. in Michigan in 2008, the group asks that men who would like to be considered for the calendar to submit a portfolio. Tough competition! The 2014 calendar models have already been selected and the calendar has an initial value of $25, but who knows what the real value is? Seven members of the 60-Mile Men joined us here in Cleveland this weekend and received special recognition at last night’s Camp Show. Hats off these to these fine crew members and walkers!