The Sisterhood of Wild Women Walking for a Cure

We’re wild about the spirit and sense of community that our teams bring to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. Today, we’re excited to hear from Les C. and some of her teammates on Wild Women Walking for a Cure, one of our wildest teams on the San Diego 3-Day.

Tell us about how your team first became involved in the 3-Day.

Wild Women (and Men and Teens) Walking for A Cure (WWWFAC) is a team that has participated in the 3-Day events since the first walk from Santa Barbara to Malibu in 1998. Three of the current WWWFAC walked in that first event because of their commitment to the cause and to take on the physical challenge. They came away from that experience both addicted and contagious, addicted to the amazing world that can be created in those three days, and so contagious that now we’ve had a collection of over 150 women, men, children (and one service dog) who have been a part of our WWWFAC family over 20+ years.

What is the history behind your team name?

Les: We adopted the Wild Women name in 2003 after discovering a line of jewelry, named “Wild Women,” that was stick figures with hair that resembled our head gear. We obtained approval from the artist to use her logo on our shirts. We haven’t looked back since. You can look for our distinctive, individually made, homemade pipe cleaner art headgear throughout the walk, or our yellow Wild Women T-shirts on Day 3!

Have your reasons for walking changed over the years?

Rosie: My motivation to walk has evolved over time. I signed on in 2000 in memory of two mothers from my neighborhood whose lives were cut short by breast cancer. I have written notes to them every year in the remembrance tent. Over the years, so many friends and acquaintances have battled breast cancer, a sister has battled breast cancer, and I am now a two-time survivor.

Tell us about the “sisterhood” of Wild Women Walking for a Cure.

Rosie: Unequivocal trust.

MA: Compassion, strength, laughter, love = magic.

Peggy: The WWWFAC team has grown into an amazing team that has bonded for the 3-Day events but for so much more. There are not many topics that remain secret when you share all of those miles together over all of those years. The trust and caring and support for every aspect of our lives is so strong. Even though we don’t see some of our teammates except for the annual event, we are able to pick up as though we had never been apart.

Our dedication to the cause has grown as we have raised a lot of money for Susan G. Komen. We are so proud of the exceedingly valuable advances in breast cancer that have been enabled by that money, particularly because more of our teammates and women close to us have received breast cancer diagnoses since we started walking. We have been able to face those diagnoses with the confidence that we are backed by the efforts and care of a virtual army of support. That makes a world of difference.

Les: WWWFAC walkers and our supporters are a family. We have a core group that walks every year, and our wonderful supporters are with us every step of the way. We also have some walkers and supporters who are able to join every few years, and we bring in newbies. As with everything during a 3-Day, it is emotional. We cry, but we laugh, and we gain memories (and rules J) from every 3-Day. We are always there for each other all through the year.

Maureen: Our Wild Women sisterhood is genuine family. We don’t share the same parents but we are as close as siblings. The love and support for each other is very special. We support each other in good times and in crises. The Wild Women sisterhood has been with me every step of my diagnosis and treatment.

What else would you like to share with the 3-Day family?

Les: WWWFAC team members are predominantly Southern California residents, and have mostly participated in Los Angeles and San Diego 3-Days. However, there are WWWFAC members who travel to SoCal for the events from Northern California, Colorado, Georgia, Texas, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, New York and Massachusetts, and there are WWWFAC who have walked and crewed in walks across the country. In total, 436 WWWFAC walkers have participated across 40 events.

We look forward to the next 3-Day. Our WWWFAC team will include at least 16 walkers and many alumni walker supporters. WWWFAC walkers have ranged in age from 16 to 77 and vary in experience from newbies on their first walks to veterans with as many as 33 walks under their belts. Seven kick-ass survivors are walking on the 2021 team, three of whom are signed up to walk at least three of the four events.

We currently have two WW in treatment and beating breast cancer as we speak. Our shirts, pins and our hearts bear the names of victims and survivors. To have my two kids join the cause when they turned 16 and are now going on their 12th and 9th walks is wonderful, and to have second generation WW walking every year is inspirational. We all hold a firm belief that we can eliminate breast cancer as a concern for our future generations. WWWFAC will continue to walk as everyone deserves a lifetime.

Crystal’s Wonder Woman

“Omg that is me! I did it for my aunt who survived triple negative breast cancer. She is truly a hero in my eyes and the strongest woman I know. She is my Wonder Woman.”

When we saw this comment on one of our favorite 3-Day photos on Instagram, we knew we needed to find this walker and her aunt to learn more. In a time where we cannot gather together in-person, social media allows us the opportunity to continue to build community even when we’re apart.

Today, we’re excited to introduce you that amazing walker. Crystal Fazio joined us to walk the San Diego 3-Day in 2019 when her aunt, Ilsia Rangel, was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. According to Crystal, “We were devastated with the news. Her chances of getting through it were extremely low. My aunt was a fighter though and explored her options.” After difficult chemo sessions, lymph node removal, and a double mastectomy, Crystal’s aunt has been in remission for 18 months.

Crystal continued, “We as a family stayed by her side and helped her through for better and worse. We wanted to give back in support of breast cancer awareness. That’s when we found the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.” Crystal’s aunt immediately said. “Let’s do this, we got this!” No one hesitated, and eight friends and family members founded The Bouncing Bellas.

Crystal and the Bouncing Bella’s treasured every moment they walked with Crystal’s aunt. “She truly is a super woman to me and my family because of all the challenging obstacles that came in her way. She fought back, blisters and all!” exclaimed Crystal. As first-time walkers on a new team, the Bouncing Bellas had a lot to take in. When asked what she’d tell other first-time walkers, Crystal shared, “My message for first-time walkers is that it will be tough and challenging. Train hard, stay hydrated, and keep pushing through, because the experience is worth all the pain and blisters. It is truly an experience of a lifetime. Oh, and don’t forget the PICKLES!”

Crystal’s aunt recently learned that her cancer has returned as lung and liver cancer, yet her family continues to come together and rally in support of Ilsia. Crystal proudly states, “She is still our Super Woman and puts on a smile every day. Nothing! Not even cancer is slowing her down!”

Thanks to Crystal for sharing her powerful smile with the 3-Day world via our Instagram page and especially for relaying the story of her Wonder Woman, her aunt.

In true social media form, when asked if she could share a DM with each person in the 3-Day community, Crystal said: “Stay positive, have fun, and remember, you are not alone!”

We are so lucky that we can still connect with walkers like Crystal – and all of you! – virtually over social media and at our virtual kick-off events, even though we can’t join together in person this year.

Bring a Little Pink Bubble Magic into Your Day with 3-Day Virtual Backgrounds

We’re using video conferencing for everything these days — work meetings, happy hour hangouts, birthday parties, family gatherings, classes and more. So why not add a little Pink Bubble spirit to your video calls? The 3-Day team created some backgrounds you can use to pink up your calls with a 3-Day twist! Revisit the magic of the Pink Bubble, the way life should be every day — kinder, more joyful and FUN — as you use these 3-Day backgrounds.

We’ve created seven different 3-Day-themed backgrounds for your video calls. You can put yourself in the middle of the 3-Day Pink Bubble tenets, take that work call in the middle of a Closing Ceremony shoe raise, or put yourself on a beachfront 3-Day route at your next happy hour hangout.

These photos are sure to spark some wonderful memories or get you excited for what’s to come. The backgrounds are also a great conversation starter and opportunity to share what the 3-Day is all about with the other people on your video call.

It’s easy to add a 3-Day background to your next video call. Simply right-click on the image and save it to your computer. Then, follow the video conferencing platform’s instructions to add that 3-Day love to your next video chat. These backgrounds are free and available for anyone to use.

Follow the hashtag #3DayTogether on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see what else we’re doing to keep the Pink Bubble feeling thriving all year long.