I Walk for Mary Beth: Linda Harris’ 3-Day Story

“We meet people every day; it is important to pay attention to the ones who will make an impact. We all have a warrior in us, but I know my fight started with Mary Beth. She was the one.”

Linda H. began walking the 3-Day in 2012, and since then has joined our pink family everywhere from Michigan to San Diego to the Twin Cities this past year. She has walked and crewed and has supported Susan G. Komen’s mission throughout the years even when she’s not on one of our 3-Day weekends. This commitment didn’t happen by accident.

In 2012, she never thought she’d be able to walk 60 miles. But then she met Mary Beth L., and everything changed. Linda walks for Mary Beth, and for all of those in her life who have felt the cruel impact of breast cancer. She will never quit. After honoring Mary Beth at our Twin Cities 3-Day this past August, Linda shared her full story with us.

How did you first come to join the 3-Day?

About 10 years ago I was sitting at my son’s football practice. I had become friendly with one of the moms, Mary Beth, through our sons. We had met years earlier, but we only really started to get to know each other through football. Then one day, I noticed this well put together woman had extremely ugly feet. Not necessarily ugly, but blisters and toenails missing!

“Excuse me, I have to ask: What is going on with your feet?!”

She laughed and said, “I just completed the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.”

My heart immediately began to race! That was something that I had always wanted to do. She began to tell me that she had walked for years but had been diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer, so this past walk was especially meaningful to her.

All I could say was, “You just walked 60 miles AND you have cancer?”

I had always told myself that I was too busy or could never complete 60 miles in 3 days. This was the push I needed. I was meant to meet Mary Beth. I immediately went home and signed up. Over the course of training and fundraising we became extremely close. We shared our work obstacles, talked about our marriages and children all while she was undergoing surgeries, chemo, radiation and reconstruction. She had cancer but she always seemed to be helping me and taking care of others. Her smile, laughter and amazing outlook on life were contagious.

In 2012 we walked together in the Michigan 3-Day. It was absolutely life changing. The tears, laughter, pain and the emotional experience bonded us together FOREVER. After completing the walk, we both decided to crew together the next year.

And how did your and Mary Beth’s 3-Day journeys grow from there?

In early November 2012, I saw a post on Facebook from Mary Beth.

“Well, it looks like I am walking this year.”

I realized this was her way of telling us that the cancer was back. I jumped in my car to be by her side. She was extremely positive and always wanted to be strong for those who were around her. So, Mary Beth and I signed up to walk again, positive that we would walk together for years to come. We trained and spent time watching old movies and laughing. I remember so much laughing ?

In retrospect, she was giving me her story to carry on what she had started.

My dear friend lost her battle with cancer on May 15, 2013, at the age of 39. She supported the Susan G. Komen organization until her dying breath. She was passionate about the cure and believed the research that this organization does will not only find a cure for breast cancer but pave the road to end all cancer. So, I will walk until I no longer am able to.

Mary Beth leaves behind a legacy of walkers who believe in her vision. Her amazing parents have supported me every year with encouragement and very generous donations. They have even donated to my teammates who were struggling to meet their goal.

In addition to Mary Beth, for whom do you walk?

I walk for my teammates and lifelong “Sisters in Walking Bonds” friends.

Andrea S.K., who has walked the 3-Day twice now. Karry C., who has walked with me four consecutive years and her beautiful daughter Lexi, who walked with us for the first time this year.

Colleen S. has also walked with me four times. She was diagnosed a few months prior to our San Diego walk last year, but she scheduled her radiation around the walk and didn’t let it stop her. I am proud to say she is now cancer-free!

I walk for my beautiful sister Lisa, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is also cancer-free today. I walk for all those who cannot. There will be a day in our lifetime, a WORLD WITHOUT CANCER.

What are some of your fondest 3-Day memories from years past?

Walking with Mary Beth in 2012 and in 2015 with my best friend since kindergarten to support her mom, who had just been diagnosed. I flew to Dallas, and my husband and son went with me ? Her mom is now cancer-free! And then, of course in 2019, speaking to the 3-Day community about why I started walking for Mary Beth, and raising the flag in her honor.

As a long-time walker, do you have any training tips for new walkers?

Train outside (always!), and train at least 5 miles at a time. Strength training is key, too! It helps with breathing and muscle memory helps with hills.

Any tried and true fundraising tips?

Email your target contributor with the intention of just saying, “I’m walking!” Make it personal and ask if you may send them the link. If you ask instead of just sending, 99 times out of 100 they will ask for it.

What does the word “commitment” mean to you?

Commitment to me, it is a part of my heart. It’s not an obligation. It’s who I am.

Fundraising Friday: Tips to Earn More 3-Day Gear

Throughout the 3-Day, from our route signs to our Bank of America Breakfast of Champions to our Closing Ceremony, we work hard to consistently honor everyone who reaches their fundraising goals. Every dollar you raise makes a huge difference in the fight against breast cancer and every dollar should be celebrated.

To deck you out in 3-Day gear, we have all new 3-Day Rewards in store for you as your reach certain fundraising milestones! What can you look forward to? Well, we have a whole lot of fun…

There’s a 6-Pack of Shoelace Tags to add some extra pink fun to your kicks on event. You only have to raise $2,500 to earn these!
If you fundraise $3,500, you’ll be awarded festive 3-Day socks that will spice up your next training outfit!
A cool 3-Day visor will be yours when you fundraise $5,000 for the 3-Day! What better way to find some shade while you walk, but still leave room for a fun 3-Day hairstyle?
When you hit the $7,500 mark, you’ll be rewarded with a 3-Day fleece blanket. It will keep you warm all fall and into the holidays!
If you’re a real fundraising superstar and hit the $10,000 mark, you’ll receive a packable pullover! We know many of you travel for the 3-Day, and this jacket will be a lifesaver for you. It conveniently packs into its own zippered front pocket, it’s unisex and water-resistant, PLUS it has a hood with adjustable drawstring. It’s great for training walks and your 60-mile weekend.
Aside from rewards for yearly fundraising, we also have rewards based on your lifetime fundraising efforts, including a 3-Day vest for when you raise $50,000 and a travel bag for when you raise $100,000 in your lifetime with the 3-Day. Keep working towards those big goals! Additionally, when you raise $100,000 or more or your team raises $1,000,000 or more, you will become a part of the Susan G. Komen Lifetime Commitment Circle and among other things will be forever-honored with your name or team name on the 3-Day recognition wall in Dallas, TX.

We hope this list adds some extra spark in your fundraising plans for the rest of the year and help to propel you towards whatever your fundraising goal is for the year!

If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out our 2019 3-Day Fundraising Handbook! It is chock full of all kinds of information, fundraising tips and tricks.

It will first walk you through setting your initial goal, and get you jump started with your fundraising outreach. Just getting started can be difficult for some people. Once you’re on a roll, it’s easier to think of fun new ideas or band together with your teammates for a fundraising event. But that first step can be tough. It’s all about the ask.

From helping you brainstorm a list of donors to providing advice from 3-Day mainstays like Coach Gayla, this handbook can be your guide through every step of the process. It also walks you through important support tools like your Participant Center, online fundraising page and our 3-Day app.

Not to mention, this handbook can be useful for your supporters as well! You can learn about the difference that Susan G. Komen is making in local communities. These facts are super helpful in crafting your fundraising letters, or to hand out at team building and fundraising events.

And that’s not even everything! If you’ve never read the Fundraising Handbook before, this should become your go-to as you continue fundraising for the 3-Day. It will help you reach your goals and put you on the path towards earning one of our amazing fundraising rewards as well.

Also, feel free to share your personal fundraising tips in the comments below! There is no such thing as too many ideas!

2019 Seattle 3-Day Wrap Up

The West Coast certainly was the best coast this past weekend in Seattle! From the natural beauty of the trails and waterfront to the excitement of our first outdoor camp of the year, we spent a fantastic weekend with our Seattle community, and celebrated a wonderful legacy in this region.

Our weekend began on Fountain Lawn, under the shadow of the Space Needle. Walkers, crew, family and friends all gathered to celebrate the start of our 60-mile journey! Michelle Millman from our local partner KIRO7 Seattle kicked off our Opening Ceremony by sharing her own breast cancer story before our survivors and those living with breast cancer led our walkers out and onto the route.

We passed through downtown Seattle and into Roanoke Park for our first pit stop of the day, with walkers being cheered through the morning by local supporters from St. Thomas School. Everyone entered lunch at Downtown Bellevue Park with smiles on their faces after seeing those young cheerleaders!

At lunch, we also met our amazing Seattle 3-Day Youth Corps, who shared why they commit three days to support Susan G. Komen. It was an emotional declaration of support and showed just how much our Youth Corps means to this community.

Leaving lunch inspired, we trekked through Bellevue and Redmond in the afternoon before arriving home at our outdoor camp at Marymoor Park. Walkers reveled in the Bank of America massage chairs before giving a warm welcome to our final walker of the evening. Day One = Complete!

Day Two began with our Bank of America Breakfast of Champions, where we were so honored to recognize so many incredible Seattle 3-Dayers for their contributions over the years. And then the walk began! There was plenty of community support throughout Day Two; from Lil’ Smokies snacks to a Susan G. Komen Puget Sound cheer station to gator-itas from the Puget Sound Parrot Heads. Every step of the way, walkers were cheered through their day.

That includes extra cheers — and dancing! — at our Halfway Celebration at lunch in Juanita Beach Park. Mark led us in our halfway flash mob, and we had more dancers than ever before! Even after walking 30 miles already, Seattle 3-Day walkers could still move and groove ?

The afternoon passed quickly as walkers made their way along local trails in both Kirkland and Redmond. Camp on Saturday night was extra special, with Coach Aubrey performing live music for her 3-Dayers, and our final walker for the day beginning our Honor Ceremony that evening. Once again, participants were reminded of why we commit, why we walk, and why we can never quit. Everyone snuggled into their pink tents feeling inspired to start Day Three in the morning.

And soon enough, Day Three arrived! The day began with a drop off at the University of Washington and though it was a rainy Sunday, our walkers took on the final 20 miles of the weekend with aplomb. We spent the whole day in Seattle, with early morning stops at Woodland and Gas Works Park. Walkers marveled at the views and posed for photos in Gas Works Park, which is always a favorite pit stop for the weekend.

We then made our way into the downtown area for lunch at Lake Union Park, before walking along the water and through the Olympic Sculpture Park. And before we even knew it, our finish line was in view! We returned to the North Fountain Lawn at Seattle Center for the Finish Line Festival and our walkers crossed the 60-mile finish line with wide smiles and arms raised in triumph.

As our final walker crossed the finish line, we began our Closing Ceremony celebration! Following the last walker, we honored our crew, and the survivors and those living with breast cancer. Together, our Seattle 3-Day family was finally complete. We celebrated this weekend, the legacy of the 3-Day in Seattle and our amazing group of participants. After all, our 350 walkers and 175 crew had raised a combined $1.1 million! Thank you, Seattle, for yet another amazing 60-mile journey with us!