The Virgin Walkers of Atlanta

“I was just hearing about breast cancer all the time as a stylist,” said Sandy, a hair stylist in Mobile, Alabama. She called up her best friend Elizabeth to propose walking the Susan G. Komen 3-Day^® to raise money for breast cancer research.

“I said ‘no’ at first!” recalled Elizabeth, while they both rested at lunch in the suburbs north of Atlanta on Day 2. They laughed despite some aches and pains, but seemed to be enjoying the walk, having finished more than 30 miles total. “I am doing the walk for my grandmother who passed away: today would have been 94 years old!”

The two women are among a large contingent of first-time Komen 3-Day walkers here in Atlanta, Georgia. They walk a total of 60 miles over three days and have each raised over $2300 for breast cancer research and awareness. In the 3-Day community, they are often playfully dubbed “Virgin Walkers.” After a full 21 miles on Day 1, and 19.3 miles on Day 2, they are ‘newbies’ no more. Elizabeth and Sandy are lucky to have someone else to walk with, but many show up to walk the challenging course without knowing anyone. ‘Riding solo,’ these brave souls often meet other teams and individuals to walk with.

Kathryn and Gloriela get ready for Day 2 on the Atlanta 3-Day

Gloriela, originally from Panama and living now in Atlanta, met up with another first-time walker, Kathryn, on the route on Day 1. “Opening Ceremony was so inspirational,” mentioned Gloriela at breakfast at the start of Day 2 in Atlanta. “I love the organization of the whole process, and I love the motorcycles and bikers who help keep us safe. They dance, turn on music, and cheer for us.” Kathryn remembered her sweet friend who passed away from breast cancer about the same time her son was born. They felt better having met each other and found someone to walk with!

Jasmin, Brailey, Alex, and Krista stop in Piedmont Park (with unidentified photobomber-walker)

Some first-time walkers are initiated into teams that have been walking for awhile. “Oh, he’s hurting. He’s hurting real bad,” laughed Krista, Jasmin, and Brailey about their new recruit Alex. Their team, Project Perk, was founded four years ago by Jasmin who started walking to honor her grandmother. Krista then got Alex to join the team who had made the comment, “It’s just walking!” On Day 3 in Piedmont Park, he laughed, agreeing that he was hurting. The team was in good spirits, though, and looked to finish the 60-mile route strong.

Jennifer and Lorie, two first-time walkers on the Atlanta 3-Day, stopped long enough to sum up the event: “Twelve girls, eight blisters, three days, two trips to the medical tent, and one great event.” Their supportive team was decked out in pink wigs on the last day of the event and were cruising along.

Jennifer and Lorie are first-time walkers embedded in their supportive team

First-time walkers are well loved on the 3-Day, and even if they are alone when they start, they are soon swept up by a team and made one of their one. The spirit of the 3-Day is that everyone wins and that everyone does the best they can! See you at Closing Ceremony at Turner Field!

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!

“I’ll Help Anywhere”

Brad is flanked by family and flag bears at the Opening Ceremony of the Philadelphia 3-Day

Brad is flanked by flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony of the Philadelphia 3-Day

‘Are you comfortable with a walkie talkie?’ read the first email. Brad T replied, ‘Yes’ to that email. ‘Can you drive a large box truck?’ Again he replied ‘Yes.’ He realized that the first two emails were blanket emails to his volunteer ‘Crew’ on the Susan G. Komen Philadelphia 3-Day in 2012. The next email was only to him: ‘Would you be the Captain of your crew?’

He laughed and accepted. “I was on the ‘I’ll Help Anywhere’ Crew and ended up on Grab and Go B, a small pit stop supporting over a thousand Susan G. Komen 3-Day® walkers on their 60-mile journey to raise research money for breast cancer. Brad, a tax guy by day, dons a pink shirt and a pink baseball cap for the event, hardly the attire of his usual working life. Brad’s story, however, is personal and can bring tears in a moment.

Brad T carries the flag “My Wife” in honor of Sabrina, who passed away from breast cancer

His wife and mother of his four children, Sabrina, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. “We were married for 32 years,” said Brad at Pit Stop 1 on Saturday. “We met in southern California in 1979; both of us were there for work. We were married in the church we met in!” Brad first was a volunteer at the breast cancer fundraising event in 2010, helping on the Sunday when the walkers and regular crew members celebrate at the end of their 60-mile journey. “I wanted to walk in 2011, but Sabrina was just too sick,” mentions Brad. Sabrina passed away in May of 2012. “I’m excited to walk this year for the first time and carry the flag in her honor.” Several individuals are asked to represent their loved ones in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies with flags. Brad is carrying one that reads: “My Wife.”

Brad T honors his wife Sabrina at the Opening Ceremony of the Philadelphia 3-Day

Amazingly, this has been a banner for the entire family. His older daughter and his youngest son are walking with him. His younger daughter joined the Young Women Walking (YW2) group, which supports girls and guys 16-23 in one day of a Komen 3-Day®. They still raise at least $750, and they walk the entire 20+ miles on Day 2 of the route. “In all, our goal was well over $6900,” says Brad, “but we raised over $10,000 together.” This dedication and commitment to the cause is always inspiring. What a team! Give a shoutout to Brad and his family this weekend on their first 3-Day as walkers!