Every Question You’ve Had About Multi-Day Walks… Answered! (At least we hope so!)

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Committing to walk for a whole weekend, even for a good cause, can be a daunting idea. You can do it, though! Since 2003, we have had more than 500,000 participants in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®, and we have spent countless weekends together, walking 60 miles to find a cure for breast cancer. If you’re nervous about doing a multi-day walk, don’t be! You will have your 3-Day family walking alongside you, and supporting you every step of the way.

If you haven’t signed up yet, now is the time to do it! We are offering $20 off your registration fee through February 5^th, a fee of only $50 to start your 3-Day journey!

If you have any questions before you sign up, we have everything you need to know…

How far do we walk on the 3-Day?

The 3-Day route covers approximately 15-22 miles each day for three days in a row, totaling approximately 60 miles. It’s the greatest distance you can go in the fight against breast cancer® .

If you are unable to keep walking at any point while you’re out on the route, we have support vehicles to transport you to the next pit stop, or ahead to camp, where you can rest and get medical attention if you need it. Your safety is always our first concern!

Once I’ve signed up, how do I join or form a team?

If you haven’t registered as a participant for the 3-Day yet, you can register online (now for only $50!) and select “Start a Team” or “Join a Team”.

To start a team, create your team name and fundraising goal and you’ll be designated as the captain. To join a team, search for the name of the team you want to join and select it. Or call 800-996-3DAY to register and indicate that you would like to join a team. Let us know the team name, and your coach will be happy to get you started.

Or, register as an individual! Even if you’re not officially part of a team, no one is alone on the 3-Day. We have meeting points for Solo Walkers to join together, or you can join a team along the way!

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How will the 3-Day help me fundraise for the event?

Each 3-Day walker needs to raise $2,300 to participate in the event, with proceeds going towards breast cancer research, funding, support, and more.

We will support you in your fundraising process in many ways:

You will be assigned a personal 3-Day coach to advise you through your fundraising and training
Our Fundraising Handbook with our tried-and-true “3-Day Way” of fundraising
Info meetings and workshops, plus online webinars
An online Participant Center to track your efforts, send emails, and get all the info you need
The 3-Day Fundraise app for your iOS or Android smartphone
Posters, business cards, infographics and much more!

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How does Susan G. Komen utilize the contributions?

75% of the net proceeds raised by the 3-Day help Komen support the global research program and other mission objectives, while the remaining 25% helps Affiliates support local programs including medical assistance, patient navigation and provider education.

All monetary donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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Where do we spend the night on event?

Once you start your 3-Day journey, we take care of you for the whole weekend. After a long day’s journey, you’ll spend the night at the 3-Day camp with your fellow walkers and crew members. We provide you a two-person sleeping tent to share with another participant.* If you don’t wish to sleep at camp, we have information on hotels which include shuttles to and from camp.

Camp has different areas, including the dining tent, where you will eat dinner and breakfast, and shower trucks for washing up. There will be a “3-Day Lounge” for relaxation and socialization, a stage for nightly announcements and entertainment, and much more!

*This year, we have a new experience for Philadelphia! The Philadelphia 3-Day camp will take place entirely in hotels. Our host hotel for camp will still include meals, main street and participant lodging. This format will allow participants the same ceremony, community and camaraderie as usual on the 3-Day, or as our veterans call it, “The 3-Day Pink Bubble!”

Do I have to carry all my gear while I am walking?

Don’t worry, the 3-Day Crew will transport your gear for you to camp. You’ll just need to pick it up from the gear truck when you arrive at camp after walking. After your 60-mile journey, the crew will transport your gear to the Closing Ceremony location for you while you’re walking on Sunday. Easy peasy!

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If I can’t walk, how else can I be involved?

You can join the 3-Day crew! A crew member is a registered 3-Day participant who attends the event in a service capacity. Crew members do not walk the 60-mile route, but are onsite during the entire event performing a specific job. The crew is the backbone of the Komen 3-Day! Crew members are not required to fundraise, though we do encourage it and will support you in your fundraising efforts! We couldn’t make the 3-Day happen without the crew.

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If I can’t Crew, can I still volunteer?

Yes! Volunteers are needed to help with single-day commitments. It’s a way to stay flexible and still contribute your time, expertise and ideas to help make the 3-Day a success. From outreach and recruitment, to on-event roles and responsibilities, there is a volunteer opportunity to fit your schedule, skills and passions.

Click here to search for volunteer opportunities in your area.

We also welcome groups of volunteers for our street teams, local events and ceremonies. Please contact a 3-Day Crew & Volunteer Coordinator to learn more.

Where can I find information about the financial results of the 3-Day?

Visit Komen.org/AboutUs/FinancialInformation.html for Susan G. Komen’s financial reports. These shareable infographics will educate your donors, teammates, family and friends about how 3-Day funds are transformed into life-saving work.

Have any more questions about the 3-Day? Check out our FAQ’s page on the 3-Day website! Or reach out to us on social media. We’re here to help and answer all your questions!

Coaches’ Corner: New Year’s Resolution Check-In

January is over, and we are one month into the New Year. How are your New Year’s Resolutions coming along? Sometimes it takes a few tries for a new habit to stick, or to reach a big goal, but that’s okay! Trying is important too, and when you can check a resolution off your list, you’ll feel even prouder if it’s something you really worked for.

We asked some of our coaches what they wanted to accomplish this year, and how they are putting in the work. Read below to see what some of them want to accomplish in 2018… and give them some encouragement! Then, add your own resolutions below in the comments…

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Stephanie Mayer – Programs & Local Events Coach, Twin Cities and Atlanta (middle)

From Sidewalks to Science: An On-Route Look at Komen’s Research with Dr. Maria Soledad Sosa

Opening Ceremonies

Dr. Sosa, can you tell us a bit about what led you to do breast cancer research?

My mom was diagnosed with ER+ breast cancer 18 years ago. Two years ago, her cancer returned and she needed a second round of treatment. Fortunately, she is doing well. My personal experience with this disease greatly impacted my decision to work in this field, and inspires me every day as I work to make an impact in breast cancer research.

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On the Route

Since we’ve got some time, could you tell us a bit about your current research?

Metastasis (or the spread of breast cancer to other organs) is what kills people with breast cancer. My research is aimed to avoid metastasis before it even begins by targeting the “seeds” of those metastases. These seeds are named DCC (disseminated cancer cells) and are “asleep” in the body, and can be found in important organs like the liver and bones even before a primary tumor is detected. But something causes them to wake up and become aggressive. I believe if we can figure out how these DCCs behave and spread, we might find strategies to eliminate them before they reactivate and form metastases.

At Camp

Now that we’ve made it “home” for the night and are enjoying the support of our crew, can you tell us about how your work would be affected without Komen funding?

Komen funding is imperative to my research. With Komen’s support, I can look for ways to keep these dangerous DCCs “asleep” so they can’t grow and become metastatic tumors. It also allows us to find ways to eliminate DCCs while sleeping. My hope is that this work could someday lead to a cure for metastatic breast cancer.

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Day 2

What would you say to somebody who’s just been diagnosed with breast cancer?

My advice to people would be to have hope and be diligent about your own care. People with no sign of breast cancer should continue to follow-up with their doctor, follow the doctor’s recommendations, and continue to get screened every six to 12 months after treatment has stopped. It was a follow-up screening that helped my mom detect her breast cancer recurrence early. Typically, after a person is treated for breast cancer they are considered to have no sign of breast cancer. However, some people may have DCCs in vital organs that are “asleep.” They could stay like that for years — even decades in the case of ER+ BRCA patients — so it’s important to understand that risk and be proactive about screening. Early detection and follow-up could save the life of a person with no evidence of disease.

Cheering Station

Look at all of these enthusiastic supporters out along the route! Tell us about how you are involved with Komen outside of the lab.

I’m excited to be one of four Komen-funded grantees selected for the Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Research Grant crowdfunding opportunity, where anyone can donate funds to support a research project or researcher of their choice. You can learn more about my story on the Komen Facebook page and donate directly to my Komen-funded MBC research project here!

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Closing Ceremonies

Thanks for walking with us, Dr. Sosa. One final question, in working with patient advocates, how have they impacted your research by bringing the patient perspective?

Sandra Spivey is the patient advocate for my grant, and was so helpful in developing the Letter of Intent and grant proposal. She is very supportive, giving me feedback on how to highlight the patient perspective. I was amazed by her energy and passion. Even when she got sick, she kept working and sending me comments for this grant. I really appreciate all her help, and I am sure she will have a positive impact on my research.

Dr. Maria Sosa is an Assistant Professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and you can donate to her research project directly through Komen’s crowd funding web page. Since 1982, Susan G. Komen has funded $956 million in breast cancer research, second only to the U.S. government and more than any other nonprofit in the world. Learn more here.

Pit Stop

Three things to know about Dr. Sosa:

I like dancing. And as an Argentinean woman, I dance tango!
In my free time, I love to paint
My family enjoys being outside and being active — doing things like hiking, kayaking, and swimming.

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Grab and Go

Here are three ways you can use this information to help reach your 3-Day fundraising or recruiting goals:

Sample Tweet:

Having seen the effects of breast cancer in her own family, Dr. Maria Soledad Sosa is now conducting research aimed to avoid breast cancer metastasis before it even begins! Learn more about her research here:

Sample Facebook Post:

Having seen the effects of breast cancer in her own family, Dr. Maria Soledad Sosa is now conducting research aimed to avoid breast cancer metastasis before it even begins! Komen funding has been imperative to her research, and she hopes to one day find the cure for metastatic breast cancer! Learn more about her work here: