Through it all, especially in the Medical Tent, Hal G. shows PERSEVERANCE | Word of the Year

Next up in our “Word of the Year” series, meet Hal G. and learn in his own words why he chose perseverance.

I have participated in three events as part of the Medical Crew—Philadelphia in 2018 and 2019 as well as New England in 2019. I am registered to walk for the first time in San Diego 2021.

My experiences at the 3-Day events have been great. I’ve been able to meet so many wonderful people who have come together in support of people they know and don’t know. It’s about making the future brighter for friends and strangers alike…incredible people filled with hope finding a common mission of advancing breast cancer diagnosis, research, and treatment.

As part of the Medical Crew, I feel honored to be part of the 3-Day. My colleagues and I are dedicated to helping the participants finish what they started. I am at the event to help each individual achieve their own goal.

The days start early and end late as we have clinic before the route is open and afterwards into the evening. We provide medical care along the route with a team of incredible medical professionals and assistants. It is truly a well-coordinated team effort with each member doing their part to get each and every participant the care they need and to keep them safe.

My word of the year is Perseverance.

Perseverance is my word of the year as 2020 was a year filled with remarkable and unprecedented challenges.

I participate in the 3-Day because of my girlfriend, Christine. We started dating in July 2014. Christine was diagnosed with breast cancer in December the following year. She and I never really talked about this again but as tears were streaming down her face in shock from her diagnosis she said to me, “This is more than you bargained for. If you want out of the relationship I understand”. I am still here. We are still here.

Christine had surgery and radiation treatment and now has ongoing medical management and surveillance. After recovering from the stress and fatigue of treatment, Christine set her sights on walking the 3-Day. It was a monumental milestone in her emotional and physical recovery.

Christine has now completed three events, two as a walker and one as crew. We will be walking in San Diego together.

In December 2020, Christine became a 5-year survivor.

The 3-Day family to me is a gathering of people coming together to combat a common adversary. It is a group of individuals magnifying their strengths exponentially as they join the Pink Bubble. It is a reminder that nobody has to fight alone…there are friends we know and friends we haven’t met yet that are working together to improve lives today and for future generations.

My word of the year, Perseverance, embodies much of the 3-Day experience. Perseverance is about overcoming an obstacle. It’s defined as weathering a storm or difficult situation in life with strong determination. I have seen and treated many in the Medical tent and base camp who display a singlemindedness toward achievement. Also, perseverance can last for a lifetime.

The message I would like to share with the Pink Bubble is that you matter. You are important. What you do helps others. In this time of extraordinary challenges look for the good. The Pink Bubble is part of the good, and the Pink Bubble is not the same without you.

One thing that surprised me about volunteering for the 3-Day is that in helping others an unexpected side effect was that I helped myself. I didn’t see that coming.

Thank you, Hal. As we move through 2021, we’re honored by the perseverance we see you and the Pink Bubble family show as we overcome obstacles together.

Other Word of the Year Blog Posts

Tracie G. is ready to INSPIRE everyone around her in 2021 | Word of the Year

Carolyn P.’s Heart is Filled with Generosity in 2021 | Word of the Year

Riley W. Chooses To Walk Into 2021 Being GRATEFUL | Word of the Year

A Warm Walker’s Welcome to New Members of the 3-Day Family

We love our new walkers and do everything we can to make sure they feel welcomed! Some veteran participants go above and beyond to bring newbies into the 3-Day Pink Bubble, whether that is by encouraging them in the 3-Day Facebook Groups, helping with fundraising tips, or, in Betsy’s case, getting even more creative.

How did you first become involved in the 3-Day?

A friend from Washington State met me for dinner one night way back in the winter of 2005. She was in New Hampshire on business. She said she was interested in doing “something special” and wanted to know if I was interested. I said, “Sure, tell me about it,” and the conversation went something like this:

FRIEND: I want to do a fundraising walk for breast cancer. Do you think you’d like to join me?
ME: Sure! Where and when?
FRIEND: Seattle…in August
ME: Okay!
FRIEND: It’s 60 miles. It’s three days.
ME: Oh.
FRIEND: And you have to raise over $2,000
ME: Oh…Okay…

I agreed to do this walk before I talked it over with my husband and my employer. Luckily for me, they both agreed to the plan. I was nervous and excited about this endeavor. I am not an enthusiastic exerciser, but I trained according to the schedule. I went outside my comfort level and asked everyone I knew (and some people I didn’t!) for donations. I have exceeded the minimum for fundraising each year I’ve participated since 2006.

The Susan G. Komen 3-Day has been a life changing experience for me. Although I have not been personally touched by breast cancer, I have had my share of abnormal mammograms, ultrasounds and MRIs. Becoming involved with the 3-Day has been the most empowering thing I have ever done. After finishing the Seattle 3-Day in 2006, I set a goal for myself to walk in all of the cities at least once, no matter how long it took. Back then, there were 14 walks.

You have a special place in your heart for first-time 3-Day walkers. Why is welcoming them into the family so important to you?

That first year, I was a stranger to the 3-Day. I traveled from New Hampshire to Seattle by myself to meet a team of 14 women, of which I only knew one. I was unsure if I could really do this. At first, I felt alone in the crowd, and I didn’t have family to see me off. We hadn’t trained together, so I didn’t know what my team’s pace was like. Would we all stay together? Would we spread out and never see each other on the route? I was really scared. Then I started to meet other walkers, and we started sharing our stories. I made friends that weekend who are still near and dear to my heart.

Since 2006, I have traveled to one 3-Day a year. For my first seven walks, I was a solo walker. I gathered friends as I walked and talked. I laughingly say my Christmas Card list grows exponentially with every walk I do! I became better at meeting strangers, at reaching out to those who looked unsure or alone. I knew what it was like to be that “stranger in a strange land.” I don’t ever want anyone to feel the way I felt that first walk. Every so often, newbies can get the feeling that they don’t quite belong there. I don’t ever want to be the reason someone feels like they are on the outside looking in.

I also want them to come back next year! I know that we are still trying to grow participation. In order to do this, we need new faces, and new energy. I’ll be 60 this year. I’ll be walking 60 miles in Chicago for my 60th birthday. After not gathering in 2020, I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone again!

How do you welcome them into the family?

I simply say, “Hello,” and smile! I ask them about themselves: Where are they from? How many walks have they done? Is this the first? What made them decide to commit? If it is their first walk, I give them one of my First Timer Goodie Bags as a token to welcome to the Pink Family! It is a small pink organza bag with a pink ribbon on it, filled with little tokens…pink band aids, a smiley face pin, a pink ribbon rubber duck, a couple of mints, some temporary tattoos, a 2006 Canadian Quarter with a pink ribbon on it, and most importantly, a business card with my contact information on it so they can reach out if they need ANYTHING! I remember how much fun it was collecting goodies along the way…stickers, beads, pins from Sweep vans…all mementos I treasure.

What is your favorite moment at the 3-Day?

Hearing stories…crying together…laughing together…camaraderie…welcoming the Last Walker home for the night. Knowing that all of our Pink Family is safe under the same roof…seeing faces from last year’s walk at the Opening Ceremony…spending some quiet time in the Remembrance Tent.

If you could send a message to everyone in the Pink Bubble family, what would it be?

I love you all and can’t wait to collect my hugs!!!! And all the love!!!! I miss you!!!

Thank you, Betsy, for going above and beyond to welcome new walkers to the 3-Day family! You are the reason this community is so incredibly special. And a huge welcome and Pink Bubble hug to our new 3-Day walkers! We are all here cheer you on for your very first 3-Day event. On the 3-Day, you are never alone.

Wednesday is Random Acts of Kindness Day! How Will You Make Someone Smile and Spread the Pink Bubble Spirit?

Although we didn’t gather together in-person last year, our community is so lucky to have stayed #3DayTogether throughout 2020.

Remember when we asked you to describe the 3-Day in one word? One word that really stuck out was Kindness. How appropriate, since “Be Kind” is the first tenet of the 3-Day Pink Bubble.

While the Pink Bubble Fam is constantly wowing us with the support, love, and kindness we show each other, with hope-filled hearts, we want to issue a challenge for Random Acts of Kindness Day on Wednesday: Help spread the Pink Bubble love outside the 3-Day family in your local community or online.

Let’s make the world happier, more hopeful, and a bit kinder on Wednesday. It just takes two steps.

Random Acts of Kindness Day Challenge

Do a random act of kindness in your local community or online.
Fill out this anonymous form and tell us what you did.

Bonus points—Post about what you did on social media, spread the word about the 3-Day, and be sure to tag #3DayTogether.

We’ll collect the list of anonymous submissions and share them with the Pink Bubble next week.

Need ideas? Pick up trash while out on a training walk. Buy the drink for the person behind you in line at the coffee shop. Give a $5 gift card to a local candy shop to the person who checks you out at the grocery store. Tell someone you haven’t talked to in a while how much they mean to you. Make an anonymous donation to another 3-Day participant.

Let’s do this, 3-Day family!