Not Friends, But Sisters

“The Faithful Fighters” stop at Pit Stop 1 of the Komen 3-Day on a rainy Sunday

As I move through the Susan G. Komen 3-Day^® Series, I am continually amazed by the stories of each person who decides to walk 60 miles in three days. Each one has evoked my personal admiration and awe. The Seattle 3-Day was no exception. It was difficult to miss Katie K from North Bend, Washington, not because her recent need to use a wheelchair sometimes, but because there were so many of her smiling friends who pushed her and supported each other, all on their first 3-Day^®. When asked how they managed the hills, one teammate said, “We figured out that if we stood behind each other in a line, it was easy!”

Team “The Faithful Fighters” push each other along the Seattle 3-Day (Photo courtesy The Faithful Fighters)

MY FRIENDS

“They aren’t my friends…They are my sisters,” said Katie. “They have been there for me through all of this and even before. They took me in and made me feel loved when I knew nobody. They have looked after my daughter when I have been rushed into hospital, they have driven me to appointments, they have sat with me when I didn’t want to be alone, they have brought me dinners when I am too tired to cook or feel like I am dying after chemo, they have covered for me at work, they have held my hand when all I need is to feel safe. Anything and everything I need, they are there for me! That’s not something you find every day in a person. That is God’s Love!”

Katie K from North Bend, Washington is surrounded by her teammates at the start of Day 2 on the Seattle 3-Day

ABOUT ME AND MY STUPID CANCER

“I am 34 years young and was born in a town outside of West London called Hounslow in England. I had an amazing upbringing with two extremely loving, caring parents who would drop everything for me.” Katie describes meeting her future husband, Jason, at Heavenly on a ski trip for work. “I managed to win him over, and we married exactly one year after we met in Monterey, California.” After their most wonderful little blessing, Kayle was born, they moved to North Bend, Washington, and never looked back.

Katie K poses for a picture with a friend at the Closing Ceremony of the Seattle 3-Day

“I had found a lump in my right breast when Kayle was one-year old. I had recently stopped breast feeding, and I lost my health insurance when we moved to Washington, so I went to see a doctor for cash who told me it was just a blocked milk duct or cyst and that I should just ‘keep an eye on it.'”

“We had just celebrated Kayle’s 2nd birthday and everything was fine, until I found a 2nd lump right next to the first lump. I went back to the same doctor, and she ordered an urgent mammogram, which turned into a urgent ultrasound, which turned into a biopsy needed to confirm the cancer. We didn’t have insurance, and I wanted to be with my family, so we packed up our house, got my husband a visa and headed back to England. I had six months chemotherapy, a double mastectomy with reconstruction, and radiation and was given the ‘all clear.” After being ‘cleared,’ the family returned to Washington, and everything seemed fine until a routine screening in 2012 when she found out the cancer had metastasized.

Katie was devastated. “This meant that there was no longer a ‘cure’ for my cancer and that it was going to be a case of management from then on. As you can imagine, ‘scared’ wasn’t a good enough word to describe how I felt.”

The always-positive team “The Faithful Fighters” pushes through the rain

After so much news over the next year and with the 3-Day looming, Katie was to have yet another challenge. “Two weeks before the 3-Day, my family and I decided to have a quiet day on the sofa catching up with TV shows,” said Katie. “My legs went numb from the knees down and I couldn’t walk. An MRI showed that I had a large lesion in my spinal cord that was causing my legs to stop working. Because of the amount of swelling in my spinal cord, my doctor decided to admit me to the hospital…3 days before the 3-Day! I was devastated, again! The thought of not being able to do the walk was too much for me! After talking to my doctors and the 3-Day organizers, we made some changes to our plan, and all agreed that I could walk.” Walk. Roll. Push. Push each other. Team The Faithful Fighters did all of the above. As they rolled out of Gasworks Park on a rainy Sunday morning on Day 3 and with at least ten miles to go, I noticed two things. First, they considered themselves a team over all else. Everyone moved together with no thought of splitting up or leaving someone behind. Second, they were always happy.

ONTO THE 3-DAY

“How did I find out about the 3-Day? A TV advert,” responded Katie. “I have wanted to do the walk for a few years, since we lived in California, but the thought of raising that much money was always so overwhelming. Once I was told my cancer was no longer curable, it changed things. I wanted to walk so that my precious Kayle Lily wouldn’t have to deal with this stupid disease, so that no other child will lose their mother for no reason, so that no other mother goes to bed scared and worried about leaving her child, so that no other husband loses his wife! And so I called my friend, Carrie, who I knew would want to walk too and she agreed. We would walk!”

Katie awaits the start of the Closing Ceremony with her team at Memorial Stadium on the 2013 Seattle 3-Day

“We called another friend to tell her about our excitement and from there, our idea spread! Before we knew it, there were eight of us and almost $18,000 to raise! We created a blog and spread the word.”

A MESSAGE

“If I could pass on a message to the world, there would be a few. First, God is good. Give Him a chance! Second, don’t take your time on the planet for granted! God only promises us today and that could be taken away in a heartbeat! Love your family and friends. Show them grace and forgiveness because your last words could come when you least expect it.”

Teammates from “The Faithful Fighters” hug during the Closing Ceremony of the Seattle 3-Day

“Third, life is complicated. It’s hard! No one said life would be easy. God doesn’t promise an easy life. He tells us that life will be hard, but with His help, support and love, we can get through the difficult times and help others in the process of helping ourselves. Lastly, appreciate your time with loved ones. House cleaning, laundry, work, TV, computers, Facebook. It shouldn’t come before spending time with our loved ones. Put down your cell phone, and go and draw with your daughter, go play dress up with her, do face painting together, go do something silly and laugh with friends.”

Katie participates at the emotional Closing Ceremony in Seattle

Dr. Sheri and the Seattle 3-Day crowd go wild as team “The Faithful Fighters” enter camp with the 3-Day flag at the end of a long Day 1

Katie embraces another 3-Day participate after raising the flag at camp on the Seattle 3-Day

“The Faithful Fighters” pose for a picture after having raised the flag at the end of Day 1

“The Faithful Fighters” are all smiles at lunch on the Seattle 3-Day

“The Faithful Fighters” start Day 2 and another 20 miles of walking at the Seattle 3-Day

5 Qualities of 3-Day Friendship

As a 3-Day coach in Washington, D.C., Shawn Supers has met hundreds of 3-Day participants each year who tell her they are looking to meet new people. Some have just relocated, others are recently separated or divorced. Many hope that participating in a cause-related fundraising event like the 3-Day will help them meet good-hearted, like-minded people.

Friendly 3-Day smiles at the 2013 Michigan 3-Day.

Well, according to the State of Friendship Report, they have come to the right place! Women and men both look for these top five qualities in a friendship: loyalty, decency, dependable in a crisis, likes me and is fun to be with. And those five qualities describe nearly every participant that I’ve met while working on the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.

Loyalty Whether loyal to a family member or friend who is struggling with the disease, or to the breast cancer cause, 3-Day participants are committed.
Decency What could be more decent than committing to walking 60 miles and fundraising to save the lives of others?
Dependability “We will never give up” is the 3-Day motto. We haven’t and we won’t.
Fun Where else can you see grown men in tutus on motorcycles to “save second base?”
Like What’s not to like about someone who will throw their heart (and soles) into the goal of eradicating breast cancer and have fun doing it?

Susan G. Komen walkers gear up and take on Day 2 to find a cure for breast cancer.

Sharing the 2013 Chicago 3-Day

Have you made any new friends on the 3-Day? Please share your stories in the comments section below.

3-Day Friendships – Powered by Optimism

Amy B is one of thousands of 3-Day walkers who registered for her first 3-Day as an individual, and joined a team to meet others. Little did she realize that those friendships would last well beyond her first 60 miles! I asked Amy to share her story of finding lifelong friendships as a 3-Day walker.

Amy B and her 3-Day team, Powered By Optimism.

When she first joined the San Diego 3-Day in 2008, Amy didn’t know anyone else who was walking. “I was approached by a team captain trying to grow her team, and jumped on. I met so many great people from my very first training walk that I knew that was the way to go!

Switching cities didn’t stop Amy from making new friends. “In 2009, I walked in Seattle, and found a small team accepting out of town participants. I joined them so I was not alone on the event. I got to learn from others all the tips and tricks of making the walk more enjoyable. But the very best part is the wonderful friendships and bonds that I have made along the way.”

Inspired by the team captains she met, Amy became one herself. “When I returned to the 2010 San Diego 3-Day I created the team Powered By Optimism because I think that teams are where the magic happens.”

Becoming a training walk leader also helped Amy meet even more new friends. “I know the importance of training and the fun of doing it with others, so I also signed up to be a training walk leader. That is how I met many new walkers and grew my team. That first year we were a tight knit team of 23. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that Powered by Optimism would turn into what it is this year. We currently have 93 team members!”

Amy’s team’s friendships were forged on training walks. “Not only are we getting stronger for our 3-Day weekend, we are also growing stronger friendships. We share hundreds of training miles together, and have time to connect with great people. Sharing our stories – both amazing and amusing – helps us through some very long training walks. And once you get to the event, you already have a little family of familiar faces.”

Over the years, the 3–Day friendships survive and thrive. “I have known a few teammates since the 2008 3-Day and many since the 2010 and we are undoubtedly now life-long friends. We hike in the off-season, and we’ve taken trips and retreats together. I have a pretty big circle of friends, but most of my best friends are from the 3-Day.”

Not surprisingly, Amy thinks being on a team is the best part of the 3-Day. “Just as you wouldn’t take a trip to Paris and not see the Eiffel Tower, I wouldn’t suggest doing the 3-Day and not joining a team. Don’t get me wrong, the event itself is amazing and life-changing. But if you join a team and join training walks, you will certainly make new friends – and do a little self-discovery too. Again, that’s where the magic happens.”

Friendship and fun at the Twin Cities 3-Day.

Are you a registered 3-Day participant looking for a team or training partner? Our 3-Day Friend Finder and Training Walk Calendar are at your service. Like Amy, your new friendships may last a lifetime.

Have you made lifelong friendships on your 3-Day journey? Please leave a reply in the comments section below