Category Archives: General

Welcoming New Members to the Lifetime Commitment Circle

The Lifetime Commitment Circle honors those who have gone above and beyond their fundraising goals, raising $100,000 individually or $1 million as a team. The following participants recently reached the amazing lifetime fundraising goal of $100,000. Read below to learn what it means to them. 

“I couldn’t have reached this milestone without all the amazing support from my donors. This is their milestone as much as it is mine! I walk so that one day my daughters won’t HAVE to…they will only walk because they WANT to.” —Nicole S. 

“I am so proud to say that since 2018 I have raised about $150,000 for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day and prior to that, I raised about $100,000 for the Avon 39 Walks! It means the world to me and the more I raise the more I want to help everyone! As a 17-year breast cancer survivor all I want is for no one to have to hear the words ‘you have cancer.’ I want to participate in the 3-Day along with more survivors every year until the cures are found. It’s an extremely important part of my life!” —Debbie S. 

“Reaching this fundraising milestone has made me realize how blessed I am to have such an amazing circle of family and friends that continue to support my 3-Day journey. I couldn’t have gotten this far without them. I will continue to walk as long as I’m able, because we’re not done yet!” —Beth N. 

“I feel blessed that I have been able to be a part of the 3-Day family. I feel if we all work together, we can make a difference.” —Laura F.-K. 

“My mom died of breast cancer 50 years ago. At the time, there was no hope and no cure, and my Mom fought her battle in silence. When the 3-Day events began, I signed up to walk. My daughter was about two years old. I made a promise that I would walk until there was a cure. For 23 years I have worn the same shirt on Day 3 that reads, “In memory of my Mom. In hope for my daughter’s future.” The 3-Day and the $100,000 I have raised reminds me every day that there absolutely is hope and we will find the cures. No one needs to fight in silence.” —Julie L. 

“Fundraising was incredibly intimidating for me when I first walked the 3-Day in 2006. I carefully picked who I sent letters to and was absolutely amazed at the response I received and the personal stories I heard. Through my continued participation each year, I saw the work Susan G. Komen was doing and became unapologetically greedy for this cause.    

I don’t take it personally if someone donates or not. I have gotten bolder each year, and now ask anyone and everyone to join me in my journey to finding the cures. I live in my 3-Day shirts when I am fundraising, and I did not own even one pink item before 2004. I ask for donations multiple times. I wear my team pin daily and pass out my business card at the slightest interest by random strangers. I am so very proud of the dollars my loyal and first-time donors and I have raised, because I know that together we are making a difference. Reaching $100,000 in donations is incredible. I never dreamed I could reach it ? until it appeared I could. Now, I’m working to get to $150,000 this season!   

I started walking in memory of a treasured friend who lost her 12-year battle with breast cancer in 2004. I was unaware of Susan G. Komen before Gail died. Since then, I have been surrounded by this diagnosis through family and friends, so I continue to raise money for those in my life, and those in my donors’ lives.    

My closest friend since childhood has told me her story changed because of what I was doing and the advances in treatment she benefitted from six years ago. Also, a beloved family member of mine is thriving following her mastectomy and treatment plan. How can you stop fundraising after that? The 3-Day community has become my cherished family over these past 15 years and 17 walks. As one, we are walking towards the world as we wish it could be every day ? filled with love, compassion, laughter and hope. For all these reasons, and more, I cannot walk away.” —Nancy S. 

“Reaching $100,000 means that I have achieved part of my goal to help put an end to breast cancer. I continue to fundraise, though, because SO much more is needed. My next personal goal is to reach $200,000 before I turn 80. And I expect to continue to fundraise and walk well past then! Finding the Komen 3-Day has truly been a life-changing event for me and will continue to be until I am no longer here.” —Glen D. 

“Reaching the $100,000 milestone has reinforced for me how important community is in fighting breast cancer. I could not have reached this milestone without the love and support of my family, friends and community. I continue to fundraise and participate in the 3-Day because I continue to lose friends and family to this terrible disease. I have lost my mother and countless friends, and I don’t want to lose any more. I walk for them, and I walk for the future of my daughter, daughters-in-law and my granddaughters!” —Sue T. 

“I am flattered but extremely grateful to be recognized for my fundraising. Like everyone inside the Pink Bubble, I walk and raise money to help create a world without breast cancer. The 3-Day has been an integral part of my life since I traveled from my home in the Cayman Islands to Dallas/Fort Worth for my first walk in 2011. Little did I know back then where this journey would take me over the next 11 years: 18 completed 3-Days (plus 11 additional long-distance walks for breast cancer), over 1,000 miles walked, over $100,000 raised, several pink tutus and furry Muppet hats I wear on the route, and countless new friends, many of whom have encouraged me to start a 3-Day on Grand Cayman (our island is so small that it would consist of loops!). 

The 3-Day world is one of kindness, compassion, empathy and inspiration where courageous survivors walk alongside grateful wanderers like yours truly and experience every possible emotion along the way. I have cherished sharing the sidewalks with those whose lives have been directly or indirectly affected by breast cancer. My own list of loved ones for whom I walk in tribute or memory has grown each year and includes my Aunt Helen, who was diagnosed in May 2020 and is now cancer-free after a year of treatment with her family over 1,500 miles away. My walk in San Diego last November was in honor of Aunt Helen. 

I can’t wait to walk in all four events in 2022, including Chicago, where my daughter Madison will join me for her 3-Day debut. Thank you again for all you do to support us, and I look forward to seeing everyone later this year.” —Rob I. 

“It’s always hard to boast about yourself but reaching $100,000 was a very proud moment for me. Having never done any kind of fundraising like the 3-Day requires, I didn’t know how I was even going to raise $2,300 my first year. However, once I started, with dear friends and family still suffering from this awful disease, I haven’t even considered stopping. Next thing I knew, I was hitting milestones that kept driving me to do more. Susan G. Komen has been a part of so many breakthroughs in breast cancer research, I feel great about being able to support their efforts. This disease is instantly life changing, and often not for the good, so finding the cures is our way of trying to protect future generations!” —Stephanie S. 

“I’ve been participating in this event for a long time. I am addicted and have been walking 3-Day events since 1998 and Komen 3-Days since they started in the early 2000s.  

I have a loyal and generous set of teammates in the donors who have supported my addiction/commitment for these many years. I am very grateful for them and honored to be teammates with them in the fight against breast cancer. 

I am thrilled to have been able to contribute to the essential work that Susan G. Komen does in bringing an end to breast cancer and supporting those who contract the disease. The advances that have been made in detection and treatment since I started walking in 1998 are astounding, and the money that has been able to go to facilitating access to those advances is hugely important.  

Our job is not yet done. Until there is an end to this disease, there is more work to be done. My best friend and tentmate/teammate was diagnosed in 2020. She benefitted from the advances made in the 20 years since her sister died of the disease. We are on a good path, but we are not done yet.  

The people and environment in each 3-Day is so special, like nothing else that I have experienced. I have deepened friendships with my teammates through training, fundraising and walking.  

I am also contagious… I have brought many friends and acquaintances to the 3-Day. It is my happy place.” —Peggy P. 

Susan G. Komen® was founded on a promise from one sister to another to do everything in her power to bring an end to breast cancer. The commitment you all show when you go above and beyond your fundraising goals to reach these incredible milestones is recognized by induction into the Lifetime Commitment Circle. We congratulate and thank each of you for supporting Komen’s vision of a world without breast cancer. For more information on the Lifetime Commitment Circle, click here. Stay tuned for our next blog about the Lifetime Commitment Circle, honoring all of the 3-Day teams who have recently reached a lifetime fundraising total of $1,000,000. 

3-Day Superheroes

On this National Superhero Day, we wanted to recognize those in the Pink Bubble who continue to show their outstanding commitment, support and care as part of each 3-Day they participate in. We asked our 3-Day coaches and staff to highlight someone, whether walker or crew, who goes above and beyond the call to action. That is what being a 3-Day superhero is all about. 

Superhero Stephanie: 

Stephanie has a smile that is contagious. She continues to be one of our brightest lights in our 3-Day crew community, despite having one of the toughest and most challenging jobs: collecting ALL the trash out on the 3-Day Route. Stephanie embraces her role with grace, enthusiasm and determination. She is one of the last crew members to arrive back to camp each night and her job isn’t finished when she arrives home. She has to unload all the trash and recycling and transfer pounds and pounds of bags into the dumpsters. You will never see Stephanie without a smile on her face.  

What inspires you to go above and beyond for this cause? 

I don’t have any family that has been affected by breast cancer, but I know of many who either are fighting or who have caught their wings. In 2006, I was just looking for a way to up my volunteerism and the 3-Day had been in Kansas City the year before, so I signed up. Best registration EVER!!! Boston 2022 will be my 26th 3-Day, and this does not count the few Avon events nor the one-day Race for the Cure events held in KC over the years. I also tend to return to what I love and that’s route clean-up. There’s something about tossing trash bags, sometimes known as ‘juicers’ by the end of the day. I enjoy it! During the process of crewing, I’ve met many and have heard countless stories of the why’s and who’s and whatnot. I go above and beyond because there is another who cannot and the best reason I can really give is “why not?” 

Superhero Cliff: 

Many 3-Day veterans know this: Cliff and his team, “Cliff’s Crew,” model the heart and soul of the 3-Day in every way. Cliff leads with love and is as humble and as strong as anyone you’ll ever meet. Through all of life’s challenges, Cliff remains steady — a shoulder to lean on, a reassuring voice, a rock. Cliff, you are a Superhero in every sense. It is one of life’s great honors to know you and call you a friend. 

What inspires you to go above and beyond? 

Oh, so many things. On my first walk it was the walkers that came in on Day 3 with their shoes cut out by medical to relieve the pressure on their feet, or those that came in with ice bags taped to their legs as they limped across the finish line; never giving up. Hugging them in and crying with them in their pain as well as their joy. 

The longer I continued to walk, the more survivors I met, both men and women. Those who were walking for family and friends that had passed. 

Then I was inspired by my personal heroes of the 3 Day that have mentored me and taught me how to lead. People like Lee & Kathy Giller, Kathy D. of The Cup Crusaders, Larry R. and so many others. 

Lastly, the new walkers that contact me asking if they can do this and then later cheering them in on Day 3 when they realize what they’ve done and how they made a difference. 

What is your connection to breast cancer? 

It started with the loss of my dear friend Betty Lou, but over all these years it has become those walkers who were survivors and now we have lost them. In the Remembrance Tent, I have quite a few friends and teammates who I am honored to have walked with. My team members are my family and they always will be. 

As the saying goes, “not all superheroes wear capes.” Some wear pink. Thank you to all of you who show insurmountable support and commitment to finding the cures to breast cancer! Stay tuned for our future 3-Day Superhero blogs.

Robyn B.’s 3-Day Journey

1 in 8 women in the US are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, and it hits even closer to home when your friends, family or members of your community are diagnosed with breast cancer. Black women in the U.S. are about 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. Susan G. Komen® is focused on reducing those inequities. Susan G. Komen is focused on achieving health equity in the black community. Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their health care provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment. 

What is your connection to breast cancer?  

I have several friends who either had breast cancer or passed away from breast cancer. I also have a friend who worked on breast cancer research at Morehouse College; ironically, as she began this work, her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. That was over 40 years ago, and she is still here with us today. 

Why are you choosing to participate in the 3-Day?  

I believe that too many women, especially African American women, are not diagnosed early enough or have enough information about breast cancer. Regular screening tests (along with follow-up tests and treatment, if diagnosed) reduce the chance of dying from breast cancer. 

I heard you raised $3,000 in only a week! How did you manage to do this? 

I am surprised but it really did not take long. I requested permission from a friend’s husband (she passed away in 2019) to walk in her honor. Her daughter wrote a passionate blurb about what kind of person her mom was, and I included this statement in my pleas for donations. I sent emails to EVERYONE that I had an email address for and I sent follow-up text messages to assure that they looked for an email from me about the 3-Day. I also emphasized that I am trying to complete my fundraising as soon as possible so I can concentrate on the training. I encouraged them to donate while it was on their mind because this may not be on their priority list, and they may forget. Maybe it’s the phase of life we are in (retirement), but it was FAR easier to get people to respond and send in a donation. Also, many people that I know have been touched in some way by breast cancer ? either in their family or among their friends and neighbors. I pointed out how their donation will be used and that it is tax deductible. 

What are you most looking forward to about the 3-Day?  

I’m looking forward to walking with survivors and other participants. The common goals and camaraderie that we experience are great motivators. I am also looking forward to the fitness benefits for me and experiencing the beauty of San Diego. 

Do you have a favorite moment from the 3-Day that you’ll always remember?  

The excitement and constant smiles that are shown by the crew members, the survivors, other walkers, and the observers along the sidelines are moments I will always remember.   

What was your experience like the first time you participated in the 3-Day? How did your experience change when you came back to walk it again?  

The first time I did the 3-Day, the hardest part was raising funds and meeting the minimum requirement to participate. Maybe it was the phase of life me and my donors were in, (still raising children, making mortgage payments, etc.) but it was much easier this time. I raised the minimum amount in record time. Also, the walk was different between the first time I walked in Atlanta and the second time I walked in San Diego because San Diego has a lot more hills than Atlanta, and thus, much harder. For some odd reason, I did not expect that. 

Are you a part of a team or do you walk solo?  

I walk solo. I do live in Georgia, not California, so I have no one to walk with. I did recently go to the Spring Into the 3-Day event in Atlanta though, and I met many other walkers from Georgia who will be walking in San Diego, so I hope to stay in touch with them and meet up with them in San Diego! 

What advice are you seeking from veteran walkers? 

I’d love advice on other fundraising ideas! I am also seeking encouragement to walk again.   

Do you have any words of encouragement or great fundraising tactics you’d like to share with Robyn? Leave a comment below! And don’t forget to register for a 2022 3-Day at The3Day.org.