Category Archives: General

A Breast Cancer Survivor and Her Pink Jeep

What started as a creative idea at a car show has now turned into a full-blown breast cancer-themed Jeep. It’s owner? Denise B., a breast cancer survivor who travels to different cities for the 3-Day as either a walker or a mobile cheering station (with her Jeep in tow, of course). 

How did you first hear about the Susan G. Komen 3-Day?  

I moved to Riverview, Florida in 2011 and heard about the 3-Day through local advertisements for the Tampa Bay event. I participated the following year, 2012, in the Tampa Bay 3-Day as a one-year breast cancer survivor. 

What is your connection to breast cancer?  

I had a friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer in the ’90s and beat it. Then, six years later, it came back in her lungs, and she ultimately passed away. In January of 2011, I was diagnosed with breast cancer from a mammogram. My cancer was caught very early; even the doctor couldn’t feel it. I had a lumpectomy and radiation. 

Why are you motivated to help put an end to this disease?  

I don’t want my daughter or anyone else to have to go through the battle of breast cancer or any other type of cancer ever again.  

We heard you have a custom Jeep, can you tell us about it? How did you come up with this idea? 

I originally had a black and pink Jeep TJ that had a breast cancer theme. That Jeep’s name was Esperanza, which means “Hope” in Spanish. I went to a car show with that Jeep in October of 2018, which was a benefit event for breast cancer. I purchased pink ribbon magnets for people to write names of survivors and stick them on my Jeep during the car show. I ended up winning that car show! A couple years later I decided to buy a Jeep Gladiator and put a wrap on it with names of survivors and in memory of others who lost their breast cancer battle. I worked with a female wrap designer to help me capture what I envisioned. The Gladiator’s name is Pink Virago, “Virago” is Latin for “female Gladiator/Warrior.” The words “Nobody Fights Alone” run along each side of the Jeep. I originally had about 140 names that I had gathered to put on the Jeep, and intended to fill the ribbon that goes down both sides with names, but over time I ran out of room. So, I expanded the space and now put names everywhere on it. Currently there are almost 400 names. Most of these names are for breast cancer, but as I meet people and they give me names, no matter what kind of cancer they have, I put it on my Jeep.   

You usually have a friend traveling with you in a unicorn costume. Is there a story behind that?  

The unicorn is actually my friend Elizabeth (she has raised over $100,000 for Susan G. Komen). She frequents Dallas/Fort Worth and other cities as the Unicorn, and in past years has shown up in a pink Gorilla or a banana costume. I met Elizabeth at my first 3-Day in Tampa. My sister worked with her and told her I was doing the 3-Day also. She walked with me on my first 3-Day and is the reason I made it all 60 miles. She was also with me in Dallas/Fort Worth this past year when I did my first mobile cheering station. She was my introduction to the Pink Bubble and represents what the Pink Bubble is all about.   

What does the Pink Bubble mean to you?  

The Pink Bubble is the culmination of diverse people from all over that come together and form a community over three days to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer. But ultimately, it’s a group of people who lift each other up, laugh together, cry together and tell their stories. Just like how a bubble forms from water and soap, the Pink Bubble forms from all the people we meet and stories we share. Then at the end of the weekend, we all go back to our normal lives, but we take a piece of the Pink Bubble with us, in the form of new stories, memories and friendships.   

A 3-Day Love Letter

We asked the Pink Bubble to play a “complete this sentence” game on our Instagram Stories for two special prompts highlighting what they love most about the 3-Day and its wonderful community. Here’s what you all had to say: 

I Love the 3-Day Because… 

“I’ve met some incredible women.” 

“I love the sense of community.” 

“It honors my mom’s memory.” 

“There is no negative mojo ever.” 

“It’s healing.” 

“I get to meet new people on the walk each year.” 

“I get to see all of my friends from all over the country and spend the entire weekend with them.” 

“I get to support a huge cause!” 

“It’s a challenge.” 

“It’s my way to prove to myself that cancer didn’t win. Plus, I get to hear and share stories with survivors.” 

“It fills my soul with hope and inspiration.” 

“It brought some fabulous people into my life.” 

“The Pink Bubble! It’s the only place you can enter alone and leave with a whole new family!” 

I Love the Pink Bubble Because… 

“We are all friends working towards the same goal.” 

“Almost everyone in the Pink Bubble has been through similar situations in regards to breast cancer, so we all get it.” 

“The Pink Bubble is a blast!” 

“It’s filled with love, fun and support.” 

“It’s an amazing community of positivity, helping others, and lots of laughter and joy.” 

“It’s the togetherness of a lot of wonderful people fighting to end breast cancer!” 

Why do you love the 3-Day and the Pink Bubble? Tell us in the comments. ? 

February Pink Bubble Story of the Month

Nominated by fellow members of the Pink Bubble, Mary T. shares her journey with the 3-Day. 

I was born the same year my mom’s mother died of breast cancer. I never met her. In 1996 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My main thought was, “How am I going to tell my mother?” Well, as the saying goes, I bit the bullet and told her. We cried together and then got on with making a plan for me to get well. Unfortunately, after my diagnosis, I lost my sister in 2001 and my mother in 2002, both to cancer. It was then that I felt it was time to do something. I saw a 3-Day commercial in 2004 and I knew this was the event for me. 

I had just moved to a new neighborhood that was great for walking and thought I could do some training close to home. I went to a “Get Started” meeting and liked what I heard, so I signed up for the 2005 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day that June. Since then, I have walked every year in Dallas/Fort Worth, along with venturing out to other 3-Days with my team. We’ve gone to the Twin Cities, Chicago, New England and San Diego events.  

I have friends who have benefited from the money raised by the 3-Day. Some have received treatment options funded by Komen grants and others have been provided transportation to get them to and from appointments. In the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Komen has also provided a mobile mammogram truck. 

The Pink Bubble has become like family, and I have made many lifelong friends. With all the training and fundraising we do, how can you not! My husband always asks me how my jaw is when I come back from a training walk because he knows I’ve been talking so much! 

Outside of the 3-Day, some of my interests include being outside with friends, whether it is walking and talking or camping in my pink tent. My kids and grandkids mean the world to me. But just as much as I like being outside, I love sitting on the couch watching a movie with my husband.  

If you are thinking about doing the 3-Day — what’s the hold up? Come join the Pink Bubble. Can’t wait to see you! 

Do you want to share your story, or nominate someone for our next Pink Bubble Story of the Month? Fill out this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PinkBubbleStory.