Let Lindsay Inspire You

Lindsay rests during the Susan G. Komen Washington, D.C. 3-Day event

When I first saw Lindsay R on the Susan G. Komen 3-Day^® in Washington, D.C. this year, she was sitting quietly in the corner of an outside building at a lunch stop. It had been a very long morning for the 60-mile walkers, and Day 1 of the Komen 3-Day was turning into a deluge. Soaked to the core, Lindsay had joined the rest of the walkers under the protection of a roof as they changed into dry socks, ate lunch, and bandaged blisters.

And no one complained.

Lindsay seemed shy as I stole a picture of her, the pink of her outfit matching the pink of the large flag she was carrying in the rain, which read “COURAGE.” Many of the walkers choose to carry flags along the route, but I was distracted and did not get to ask her about why she was walking. Day 1 of the Washington, D.C. 3-Day ended with rain on top of more rain, and the walkers, Lindsay included, plowed on the streets for Day 2 and the second leg of 20 miles. It wasn’t until the camp show on Saturday night that I realized my first impression of Lindsay was misguided.

Lindsay takes the stage to tell her story on the Washington, D.C. 3-Day

“My name is Lindsay and I am a survivor!” Lindsay had the attention of hundreds of people in an instant. “On Friday, April 13, 2012, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.” The audience was fully present as she described her ordeal of trying to find help. No one believed that she could have cancer, and her frustration seemed to have boiled over. “I felt so incredibly alone in my situation. It was one of the darkest, loneliest times of my life.” She told of her connection to another 3-Day family member, Bridget Spence, whose words gave her the “ability to keep hope alive and to live life, really live life.”

Lindsay inspires the crowd of hundreds at Saturday’s Camp Show

Her voiced boomed through the darkness in the Washington, D.C. night as the electrified crowd jumped to its feet. “CANCER WILL NOT BE THE END OF ME! Let me say that one more time. CANCER WILL NOT BE THE END OF ME!” To punctuate her attitude, she joined the crowd in the celebration of searching for a cure for breast cancer by dancing into the night. The experience of seeing her soul open as this transition from quiet, courageous walker to powerful advocate for hope was inspirational to the core.

From all of those fighting for a cure for breast cancer, we salute you Lindsay! Thank you for your inspiration!

Lindsay is all smiles at Pit Stop 1 on the last day of the Washington, D.C. 3-Day

The crowd moves to the traditional Saturday night dance party at the Washington, D.C. 3-Day

Team Girlapalooza: Welcoming Walkers Since 2008

What do you get when you have a party of merry-going women from around the country away from kids, husbands and with few inhibitions? “Well, we call it ‘Girlapalooza,’ but you also get someone at the party suggesting you do the Susan G. Komen 3-Day^®!” said Kathleen Butler, the team captain of the largest team of 60-mile walker/fundraisers this year on the Washington, D.C. 3-Day. “We weren’t quite sure who suggested it in 2007, but off we went, from a gathering of college friends and friends of friends, we became a team with a cause.”

Cynthia from Alabama is a first-time walker and joined Team Girlapalooza as she celebrates her 31st anniversary of surviving breast cancer

Teams of walkers form for the 60-mile, 3-Day walk to help each other train, raise at least $2,300 each and support each other over the grueling course. Fashion is, of course, of the highest priority for Komen 3-Day teams and the creativity and liberal use of pink together dominate the teams’ attire. Fundraising can also be tough, but Team Girlapalooza with its 56 members this year, managed to pull in $86,566, putting them as the number four out of five of the top team fundraisers. “Our success in fundraising simply comes from having members who step out of their comfort zones and ask!” said Kathleen. “And yes, we welcome walkers onto our team from all over the country. We all meet for a dinner the night before the walk and really get to know the newcomers.”

Dawn from Kentucky is walking for her friend and co-worker who died from breast cancer last year and is a new arrival to Team Girlapalooza

Among the newcomers are Dawn from Kentucky who found Team Girlapalooza on The3Day.org message board. “They were very accepting,” said Dawn after Pit Stop 2 today. “I’m walking for a friend of mine, a teacher from back home who died from breast cancer last year.” Cynthia from Huntsville, Alabama is a first-time walker and is celebrating her 31st anniversary of being cancer free!

Among the veteran members, Julie Lobdell is receiving a special award this weekend for her 10 years of effort on the Susan G. Komen 3-Day with $126,980 raised to date. What an accomplishment! This award, known as the Milestone Award, is given to one participant in each city each year, and Julie is more than deserving of this recognition.

Julie Lobdell with Team Girlapalooza cruises onto the route on Day 3 of the Washington, D.C. 3-Day

“I joined up with Team Girlapalooza because I needed to be on a team here in Washington, D.C.” said Cynthia on the chilly morning before the event started Friday. She seemed a bit nervous about the start of such a long walk but mentioned, “I’ve got my Tasheia, my daughter, with me from West Virginia, so we’re going to do this.”

Although Kathleen is the captain of Team Girlapalooza, she alternates years where she walks the 60-miles and serves as a volunteer crew member. Kathleen will be the captain of the Lunch Crew this year, so watch out for their highly original, themed lunch stops each day.

Kathleen Butler is team captain of “Girlapalooza” a large group of Susan G. Komen 3-Day walkers that claims members all over the country

A large percentage of participants in the 3-Day have direct and indirect connections to breast cancer and Kathleen is no different. “I have the family connections, but I also teach First Grade Sunday School, and two out of three years teaching I’ve had six year old girls who have lost their moms to breast cancer,” said Kathleen, turning over her credentials on her lanyard to show a family portrait of the girls from church. It’s hard not to tear up when she talks about them. “I just can’t believe that such wonderful little girls have to go to bed without hugging their mommy,” Kathleen affirms. “That’s why we do it.”

Say hello to Team Girlapalooza this weekend!

What Every Mom Wants

Deven F awaits Opening Ceremony of the Washington D.C. 3-Day

Deven F awaits the Opening Ceremony of the Washington, D.C. 3-Day

“I can’t take the breast cancer away from her,” explained Deven F this morning in the dark. “So when I saw a Susan G. Komen 3-Day^® ad on TV, I thought, ‘That’s what I have to do!'” Deven’s mother Judi was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago and is now a two-year survivor. “I just registered online in 2011, and the 3-Day started sending me all the paperwork. That’s when my mom asked me what I was doing.” Deven’s smile was contagious, even in a steady rain, on a chilly October morning. He is joining almost 1,000 participants today who will walk 60 miles over three days to raise funds for breast cancer research.

Judy and Deven cruise through Pit Stop 1 on the rain in Washington D.C. 3-Day

Judi and Deven cruise through Pit Stop 1 in the rain in Washington, D.C.

“I chose the team name ‘Not Another Mom’ for obvious reasons,” said Deven, “but I also had a co-worker pass away from breast cancer in 2011, and so I see how it affects people.” As he talked, some past walkers greet him, a sign of his past influence on the route here in Washington, D.C.

Deven and Judi were front and center at the high-energy Opening Ceremony, despite the rain. ‘If every mom could have a child as committed and caring as Deven,’ I think as they rolled into Pit Stop 1 right on time and looking good. “I’m a survivor!” says Judi from underneath her poncho, and stopped for a picture. She is all smiles on her first 3-Day adventure, and has all the support she needs.

Judy and Deven experience the emotional and uplifting Opening Ceremony of the Washington D.C. 3-Day

Judi and Deven experience the emotional and uplifting Opening Ceremony of the Washington D.C. 3-Day

I asked Deven about what it’s like to be a man on the Washington, D.C. 3-Day, and he responded: “I don’t see why there aren’t more men! This is always fun when you’re one of the only men. There are so many great people out here, and we have to support those with breast cancer and to help find a cure.”

Give a shout out to Deven and Judi in Washington, D.C. this weekend, and share some of your own stories about who is helping you!