Congratulations to Pala L., the 2015 Michigan 3-Day Milestone Award Winner

The Susan G. Komen 3-Day^® Milestone Award is given at each event to one walker who has an outstanding history or participation in the Komen 3-Day, and we were thrilled to recognize the incredible Pala L. with this special honor in Michigan last night. Pala has walked in 14 3-Day® events since 2009, and this year, she has the distinction of being a 3-Day series walker, meaning she will be walking all seven 3-Day events. High five, Pala!

Pala became familiar with the 3-Day when she saw it happening near where she lived. “Like many people, it was something I thought about once in a while. The idea of camping, something I had never done, did not appeal to me (not realizing I could sleep elsewhere if I wanted). So I never acted. Two years out of treatment, however, the 3-Day came right in front of my house! And the following year as well. What an experience THAT was! After having walkers continually thank ME for standing in my yard and cheering, I knew I had to try this ONCE (Pala laughs!) to see what it was all about.“

Pala has raised, at press time, just under $52,000. “I literally fundraise year-round. Some months more activities than others, but it seems it is the only way I can get it done. On the flip side, it also keeps the 3-Day in the faces of everyone I know,” she said.

What advice would Pala give to somebody new to the 3-Day? “Prepare. In order to have both a successful and fun weekend, you need to train and have the proper gear, including clothing. Work out all uncomfortable issues during training season. This is not the time to skimp on the cost of a good pair of shoes. Or socks. Your feet will thank you!”

Thank you, Pala, for your continued dedication to the 3-Day and the fight against breast cancer. We have a feeling she’ll be back next year, because in her words, what brings her back to the 3-Day is “The feeling. The feeling of doing good for others. The feeling of accomplishment. The feeling of knowing we are making a difference. The feeling of love, caring and kindness. When you can’t wait an entire year to experience these feelings, you walk more than one 3-Day per year!”

Congratulations to the 2015 Michigan 3-Day Top Fundraisers!

Day 1 of the 2015 Michigan 3-Day has come to a close, and we’re celebrating being 20 miles closer to the end of breast cancer. The first day was filled with spirited excitement from all around the community: from the buzzing bees of Pit Stop 1, to the endless sea of pink at cheering stations, and the constant smiles on our 3-Day family’s faces as we walked with purpose.

Please join us in congratulating the top fundraisers for the Michigan 3-Day!

Top Individual Fundraiser

Bert Stein raised $21,379 this year, and in his lifetime, has raised an astonishing $196,226. He has participated in the 3-Day for 11 years and this is his 11^th event. Bert has been married for 61 years to his wife Marion, and he has four daughters and three granddaughters. Bert continues to walk in the hopes that they will never have to know this disease. Bert is 83 years old.

Top Crew Fundraisers

Lori Olson and Sandi Severi share the honor of being our Top Crew Fundraisers this year, each having raised a remarkable $6,300. Lori has raised $32,777 in her lifetime, and has participated in 11 events over her six year history with the 3-Day. Sandi has raised a total of $25,168 in her lifetime, and has been participating for three years (this is her 5^th event). Sandi and Lori started participating in the 3-Day in 2010 in different roles: Lori as a walker and Sandi as a walker stalker. Since then, between the two of them, they have walked 3 cities. This event makes it 12 combined events which they’ve crewed, and they have walker-stalked 14 events. Sandi’s mom is a 15 year survivor. Lori’s mom lost her battle to breast cancer in 2010 to breast cancer after a long, courageous fight.

Top Team Fundraisers

Congratulations to the Hines Pink Pathers, who proudly count 67 team members in the Michigan 3-Day. The Hines Pink Pathers raised $97,774 this year (WOW!) and with a lifetime team total of $965,669, are on their way to hitting the $1,000,000 mark, an accomplishment that only a few 3-Day teams have reached.

Please join us in congratulating all of the amazing walkers, crew members, and teams who made a huge difference in the fight against breast cancer with their fundraising. Your commitment and dedication inspire us!

Buzzing by Pit Stop 1 with Crew Captain Steve

On Day 1 the Michigan 3-Day, pit stop 1 is buzzing: from the contagious energy of fresh walkers just over 2 miles into their journey, to the excited and energized crew, to the beautiful weather shining down on the first 3-Day of the year. At the entrance of the pit stop, a friendly and familiar face greets each and every walker: “Hey, how are ya? What’s buzzin?” The welcoming smile of this person only grows more enthusiastic with each new walker, no doubt because every walker who sees him and his “jugs” laughs almost immediately upon sight.

Steve, “Mr. BooBee”, at the 2014 Michigan 3-Day

Now, let’s be clear: on a breast cancer event, we can say “jugs” as a euphemism for breasts, but in this instance, we actually mean jugs – empty water jugs, the tip of each embellished with a fuzzy bee, googly eyes, pom-poms, and all. Welcome to the hive: this is pit stop 1, a BEE-utiful bumble bee themed pit stop, complete with fearless leader and crew captain Steve Z., a six-year supporter of the 3-Day. Steve was a self-proclaimed “walker stalker” for two years, supporting his fiancée as she walked. “Then I couldn’t take it any longer and HAD to join,” he said. “I walked the following year and crewed pit stop 2 the year after that.” He was promoted to crew captain last year, a role he’s returning to this year.

How did Steve hear about the 3-Day? “I really got brought to it by my fiancée, Barb. She has such a passion for this event, it’s infectious. She has two cousins who are survivors, my mom is a survivor and she and I have walked for Team Suze Cruise, where Sue has been an inspiration to so many.” Like so many other people involved with the 3-Day, Steve is struck by the numbing truth is that we all know somebody affected by breast cancer. “When I walk into the Remembrance Tent every year, I am so saddened, but steeled to fight breast cancer. To see the devastating effect it has on not only the person with the disease, but also their family and friends…. It’s heartbreaking.”

Some members of the BooBees at Michigan Pit Stop 1 at the 2014 3-Day

Some members of the BooBees at the 2014 Michigan -Day

We heard about Steve because of some amazing feedback about him from his fellow crew teams, and also because of the incredible kindness he (like all crew members) demonstrates to the Michigan walkers. “I’m very lucky. I have a great crew, who are friends more than ‘co-workers’ really. I have been lucky enough to make many friends here at the 3-Day. They make me a better person and captain,” he said. “I try to get to know each crew member, find their strengths and weaknesses, and work to their strengths, while supporting them with things they might need help with, always remembering that not everyone can do everything. It’s kind of that whole theme of this year’s crew message of ‘Inclusion.’ We ALL bring something to the party, so use those strengths to progress forward.”

While talking to Steve, it’s obvious that his leadership shines through compassion and the ability to understand a diverse group of people. Steve honed these skills in the army. “I was an Infantry Drill Sergeant, and at the Closing Ceremony, even an old drill sergeant gets misty.” (You’re not alone Steve – we think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t get misty at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 3-Day!)

“I can honestly say that the forced marches I did with my troops are every bit as hard as the walk for the 3-Day. Sixty miles in three days is a pretty damn impressive thing to accomplish. I’m proud to be a part of this event and organization,” Steve says, smiling, as he continues to cheer on walkers entering his pit stop. Steve’s contagious energy is drawing walkers into the hive like a beautiful flower, and as smiles erupt around him and his jugs, the spirit of the 3-Day shines through.