Our 2021 New England 3-Day Virtual Kick-Off started Saturday morning, August 15^th, with an inspiring morning session hosted on both Zoom and Facebook Live. The highlight was getting to hear Debbie Rood’s moving story. If you missed it, here is Debbie’s story, in her own words.

“My story is simple.

On September 19, 2018 I had my annual mammogram and was informed the doctor wanted to see me because they saw something.

I told them if it was my left breast, I have had a hard pea-like nodule for 20 years. It was my left breast and after an ultrasound, the doctor told me he wanted to do a biopsy, right NOW.

I then read him of my list of errands…important things like my nails and the tailor’s…and I left. I was SCARED. The next day I returned with my husband and they confirmed I had Stage 2, Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. I learned Lobular is only 10% of breast cancers and generally is a bilateral disease. I was fast-tracked and scheduled for a lumpectomy within three weeks of my mammogram, so I called a time out.

I decided to receive a second opinion from the largest medical university in our state. The two-hour ride was a wise decision. They identified four additional tumors and one swollen lymph node.

The tests began. We all know the joys of compression during a mammogram, but I had an MRI-guided biopsy where they compress your breast like a mammogram for an hour to conduct the biopsies. They confirmed one additional tumor was malignant and my lymph node was compromised. A PET scan provided excellent news. It had not spread, but DNA testing suggested I had a high propensity for reoccurrence, so my treatment plan would begin with 16 treatments of chemotherapy.

I had my first treatment the week before Thanksgiving and this is our BIG family holiday so we had some fun with the battle I was preparing for…

The following week we cut my long dark hair into a layered pixie and I donated my hair. The day after my second treatment there was more hair in my sink and on my pillow, so I took the plunge to GI Deb.

My attitude throughout my battle was instrumental. My mantra was, “This will not have power over me.” I continued my routine, going to the gym six days a week, and walking the dog 2-3 miles. And no, I couldn’t do the 45-minute spin class, but I set goals and wouldn’t stop until I had 30 minutes under my belt.

After 13 out of 16 chemo treatments, they halted it due to complications with neuropathy. After a month off for good behavior, I had a lumpectomy and lymph node removal in late March, and a second surgery to ensure wider margins in April.

In May 2019, I began the 30 treatments of radiation…five days a week for six weeks.

While the treatment is over, not a day goes by that I don’t remember. Primarily because I see the world differently. I am different.

Colors are brighter, the world seems to shout vs. speak to me, and my grandchildren are even more dear to me, if that’s possible. And while I still experience disappointment and anger, I no longer hold onto my anger like I did pre-cancer.

When I was initially diagnosed, the hospital told me there were only two places to read about my disease, cancer.org and Susan G. Komen. I remembered seeing something about a walk, but I was overwhelmed. So in the fall, I coerced two friends into walking with me and the rest is history.

We have a 10-person team who has raised $21K! I personally have raised $6,000, and almost half of that was through Facebook donations. I also took our neighborhood directory and emailed everyone. People who I didn’t know donated because cancer has touched someone they know. I also posted about the 3-Day on my LinkedIn profile and again was touched and shocked at the former colleagues who donated. So, my advice is to be creative in fundraising, and like me in my battle….don’t ever give up!

I look forward to walking with you all next year, experiencing my first pink bubble!”

Thank you, again, for sharing your story, Debbie. We can’t wait to welcome you to the New England 3-Day next August!

Bonus: Debbie’s granddaughters, ages 8 and 4, watched the Kick-Off with her son and daughter-in-law. 8 year-old Hannah suggested to Mom that they walk 13 miles for their grandma’s 13 chemo treatments. So they walked Saturday and Sunday, took photos at each mile and made this collage and note and posted it to Facebook.

This weekend Oma was supposed to do 60 miles in 3 days at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. Although this was canceled, she was selected to share her story of battling breast cancer live on the virtual kick-off event! We couldn’t be more proud of her and she is such a shining example of true strength. Hannah and I committed to walking 13 miles in her honor this weekend, one for each round of chemo she endured. Hannah stuck in there like a champ! We love you Oma  #theroodgirls #omakickscancer #13milesforoma #teamdeb #3daytogether.

To hear more inspiring stories like this, you have three more chances by attending our kick-off activities. Our next virtual kick-off is on September 12. RSVP today.

As part of the 2021 New England 3-Day Virtual Kick-Off, we held a fundraising challenge during the week leading up to the Kick-Off, August 10-14. The 3-Dayer who got the greatest number of individual donations during the challenge period won an amazing 3-Day branded prize – a Birdie Box with headphones, a water bottle and a Bluetooth speaker. The winner was Christine Jessen, who received 22 donations in just those five days!

We wanted to know how she did it, and pass her advice and experience on to other 3-Day participants. So we asked her a few questions.

What is your history with the 3-Day?
I have been involved with Susan G. Komen 3-Day for three years. My first walk was in Philadelphia in 2018.  My second walk was New England in 2019 and I was part of the crew at the Philadelphia 3-Day in 2019. In 2020, I committed to crew New England and walk San Diego. However, due to the pandemic, I have committed to four 20-mile walks.

Why do you walk?
I walk as a breast cancer survivor!  I walk for my childhood friend Sharon, who continues to fight every damn day! I walk for those we lost, the other survivors and for the many women, men and families who have been affected by this horrible disease.

My connection to the cause came first when my friend Sharon was fundraising for her 3-Day in Florida years ago. Secondly, after my diagnosis with breast cancer, I knew there had to be something I could do to help end this disease. In 2018 it became very clear the path I needed to take when a friend of a friend, Molly, contacted me regarding the 3-Day.  It was that moment, I decided to walk my first 3-Day in Philadelphia. I was hooked!

What techniques did you use to raise 22 donations in just five days?
The only technique I know is to get your message out to the public. I developed a theme to my four 20-mile walks. I told my story. I set-up a Facebook Fundraiser.  I publicly acknowledge those who donated. And I updated my fundraising page on Facebook with my training and fundraising goals.

What are your top three fundraising tips for other 3-Day participants?

• Get your message out to the public
• Publicly knowledge your supporters
• Keep your fundraising page on social media updated

How did you participate in the 2021 Susan G. Komen New England Virtual 3-Day?
I participated as a survivor and as walker! I did a brewery-to-brewery walk through four towns and two counties. I made sure I had a little part of the 3-Day with me. Nothing compares to what you accumulate at the various pit stops on the actual 3-Day, so I had Gatorade to drink, I had “Food Should Taste Good” sweet potato tortilla chips, grapes, a PB&J sandwich and I made the rice crispy treats! Funny how I did not eat a lot of what I packed but I squirreled it away just as I do when I’m in the Pink Bubble.

If you’re looking for further inspiration and ideas for your own fundraising efforts, here’s what Christine posted in her Facebook fundraiser:

The 2020 3-Day events have been postponed to next year due to lingering concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. So, this year I have committed to walking 20 miles one Saturday in August, September, October and November.

In honor of what would have been the 2020 Susan G. Komen kick-off event in Boston, I will walk 20 miles on Saturday, August 15. My kick-off event will begin with the challenge of walking 20 miles from Littleton, NH to Lancaster, NH. This will be a brewery-to-brewery walk. I will start at Schilling Beer Co. and end my 20-mile journey at the Copper Pig Brewery!

My journey in September will be a bakery-to-bakery walk. I will start at the Polish Princess Bakery located in Lancaster, NH and end at Crumb Bar located in Littleton, NH.

October’s journey will be a pizza-to-pizza walk! You guessed it, Littleton to Lancaster. I will start at Gold House Pizza and end at Scorpios Pizza and Sports Pub. November’s journey will be a café-to-café walk! I will start in Lancaster at The Granite Grind, ending my 20-mile journey at The InkWell Coffee & Teahouse.

I will walk as a survivor! I will walk for my lifelong friend Sharon, who continues to fight. I will walk for those we lost, the other survivors and for the many women, men and families that have been affected by this horrible disease.

My journey actually started on December 21, 2015 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. On January 25, 2016, the tumor was removed and the road to recovery and living cancer free began! With the loving support of my family and friends near and far, with radiation treatment behind me and ongoing medical support, I continue to be breast cancer free!

Please support me as I commit to this incredible challenge. It will be hard, but it’s not as hard as breast cancer. It’s not as hard as chemo. It’s not as hard as getting bad news at your latest scan. It’s not as hard as saying goodbye. And that’s why I know I have to do this. That’s why I commit. That’s why I’m walking and why I’m raising money to end breast cancer forever.

Thank you for sharing your fundraising tactics with us, Christine!

She is a great example for us all! During the evening celebration Zoom when Christine was notified live that she had won, we asked her what her secret was. She said, “I just kept posting and people kept donating.” We know these are strange times, but Christine and other 3-Day participants who are currently fundraising remind us every day that the simple act of asking people to support you in your fundraising efforts is what gets you your donations!