2017 Dallas Fort Worth 3-Day Round-Up

The 3-Day headed south for our first 3-Day of November, and was welcomed to Dallas Fort Worth with open arms! We started our Friday morning in the home of Susan G. Komen, with a nice cool sunrise over Collin Creek Mall in Plano. Our 600 walkers and 275 crew started their journey with an inspiring and emotional Opening Ceremony led by local participants.

Then, they were off and walking! The day began with an amazing cheer station after Pit Stop 1, led by Aldridge Elementary School. Almost every student and much of the faculty was out to cheer on our walkers as they completed their first two miles of the day.
From there, they walked through Cottonwood Park to come to lunch after a quick 10.3 miles. The walkers relaxed with a fun carnival theme, and stretched on their Mohawk Flooring mats before getting ready to hit the trails again.

The second half of Day One was spent walking through Anderson Bonner, Churchill and Jamestown Parks so there was plenty of beautiful greenery and fun nature photo opps for our Texas walkers. There was also lots of fun at the Susan G. Komen cheering station, complete with popsicles and even a puppy cheerleader or two. The Komen headquarters team was out in full force to show our walkers just how loved they are!

Day One ended at camp at Brookhaven College after 20.5 miles. A beautiful sunset welcomed our walkers home, and they were able to relax in the Bank of America massage chairs, as well as get in a game or two of put put golf.

Day Two dawned warm and bright for a beautiful day of walking! The walkers cruised through their first six miles with ease, arriving at Pit Two-ville with smiles on their faces as they were greeted by cats in hats, red fishes, blue fishes and even a Lorax! It was a rhyme and photo-filled good time for all.

By lunch at Campbell Green Park, the walkers had already conquered 10.4 miles on the day. At lunch, we met our amazing Dallas Fort Worth Youth Corps members, and were cheered (or woof-ed) on by four-legged 3-Day fans from the training program of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Walkers loved stopping for a photo with these furry 3-Day supporters!

From there, our walkers spent time under the beautiful Texas sun as they trekked through Kiowa Park, and past Pit Stop 4 at Mile 18.3 on the day. Before arriving back at camp, there were cheer stations at the gorgeous Vitruvian Park and Team Komen was on hand to welcome everyone back onto the Brookhaven College campus with another big cheering station.

Once all our walkers were home in the pink bubble at camp, we dug into mac n’ cheese to make sure we all had energy for the all-camp dance party!

Sunday was a perfect day for walking, and our participants hit Pit One, and 3.6 miles, in no time in Preston Hollow Park. They were greeted by local supporters, and a knock-out pit crew!

From there, it was just a hop, skip and a few-mile jump to lunch at Reverchon Park. The walkers were less than four miles from the finish line as they relaxed in the shade and stretched it out with our amazing medical team.

After leaving lunch, walkers made their way through downtown Dallas, passing the House of Blues, walking through the historic West End, and even stepping through John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza before they completed their 60-Mile journey at Reunion Tower.

After all of our walkers crossed our beautiful pink finish line, we celebrated together at Closing Ceremony. There was much to be proud of, given that our amazing 600 walkers and 275 crew members raised $1.7 million this weekend!

Our journey is never truly done, though, as was evidenced throughout our closing ceremony. We are all still working, and walking, towards Susan G. Komen’s Bold Goal to reduce the nation’s 40,000 breast cancer deaths by 50 percent by 2026.

As we hugged and celebrated and danced together, one message rang loud and clear; that though our feet may ache, our spirit and dedication will live forever; through aches, and pain, and blisters. We are shouting loudly and proudly that in this fight, where we seek to live in a world free of breast cancer, WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP. Thank you, Dallas Fort Worth. We are so very proud of each and every one of you.

If you’re ready to be a part of this incredible journey again in 2018, sign up now at The3Day.org/Register.

Congratulations to the 2017 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day Milestone Award Winner

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Please join us in congratulating our 2017 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day Milestone Award Winner; Kathy Espinoza! The Susan G. Komen 3-Day® Milestone Award is given at each event to a walker or crew member who has an outstanding history of participation in the Komen 3-Day. At the Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day camp show, we presented Kathy with this special honor.

Since her 1^st walk in 2004, Kathy has raised $53,352.44! She has also started the Hope Matters Breast Cancer Foundation to help spread the word of how early detection can saves lives, how to prepare for the experience of treatment, what to expect after treatment, how to cope with the loss of a loved one, and more. This 3-Day will be her 14^th walk, and she’s not stopping anytime soon!

Now let’s hear from Kathy herself. When we asked her these questions, she didn’t know she would soon be selected as our winner!

Kathy Espinoza

What was your inspiration to do your first 3-Day?

My inspiration was Laura – a cousin by marriage who was diagnosed at the age of 34.

What has brought you back to the 3-Day year after year?

I was bitten by the 3-Day bug! If someone would have said 13 years later you will still be walking I would have told them they were crazy! Because of my participation in this event my husband and I have formed our own breast cancer foundation whose primary purpose to provide free mammograms to insured women who otherwise would not have the screening done. To date, we have provided 584 free screenings.

What is the secret to your 3-Day fundraising success?

I am so very fortunate to have a friends and family who understand my passion and are willing to support me. Also, the fact that as a kid, I attended catholic school where you were always raising money for something. I learned a lot about running events.

What is your best advice to anyone walking the 3-Day?

When you think you cannot take another step know there will always be someone to pick you up. I keep my eyes open for those who seem to be struggling and do my best to walk with them for a bit and let them know they are not alone.

What’s a fun fact about you?

I love trashy novels!! And LOVE my University of Arizona Wildcats – GO CATS AND BEAR DOWN!!

What are the most important lessons you’ve learned on the 3-Day?

If I had never taken that first step of signing up back in 2004 I wouldn’t be where I am today with our own foundation. I have found myself doing things that are so out of my comfort zone it’s not even funny. I have created a free half-day breast cancer seminar, been on TV and talked, and have learned to speak for those who desperately need assistance and someone on their side. I am truly a different and better person because of this experience.

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Congratulations to the 2017 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day Local Impact Award Winner

Sharon Ray

For the 2017 Susan G. Komen 3-Day® season, we’re honored to be featuring the Local Impact Award. This award is being given to participants who have been instrumental in strengthening the 3-Day® community throughout the year. Local Impact Award honorees have gone above and beyond in their efforts leading training walks, attending 3-Day community events. They have also supported the 3-Day staff year-round at meet-ups and workshops, and in general, been making a difference by building lasting relationships and showing commitment to the 3-Day in all they do.

Please join us in congratulating the 2017 Dallas Fort Worth 3-Day Local Impact Award Winner, Sharon Ray.

When we told one of Sharon’s friends that she was going to be honored, she was beyond excited!

“YES!!! I’d be challenged to think of anyone more deserving! She’s constantly working with the Komen charities, especially the 3-Day and is on a never-ending quest to promote the event, participate in any way she can and help others to understand the mission and become more active themselves.

She’s a huge supporter of those of us who are survivors and is forever working to do everything she can to end breast cancer. I personally don’t know how she manages to do it all.”

Sharon also writes support letters to 3-Day participants across the country, and fundraises year-round, all the while sharing fundraising opportunities with other participants.

Knowing how much she has given to the whole 3-Day family, we had to hear from Sharon herself! When we asked her these questions, she didn’t know she would soon be selected as our winner!

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What was your inspiration to do your first 3-Day?

I have always been involved with Komen locally but never the 3-Day. I was curious how it was different then the volunteering I did with the affiliates. So, I volunteered for the 3-Day as my first experience and what an experience.

What has brought you back to the 3-Day year after year?

I cannot say one thing that brings me back year after year. It is the people I have met and still meet. The stories from survivors and co survivors. The camaraderie with the walkers, crew and staff is infectious. The friendships. I can’t imagine not being a part of this family and the Pink Bubble.

sharon Ray 2015

What is the secret to your 3-Day fundraising success?

The secret to my fundraising is to ask everyone and anyone. Trying to turn a NO into a YES. If you don’t ask you never know what you may have received. I love to give back also so having something to give back to a donor is another great way to fundraise. Telling everyone why I am asking and what the dollars can do.

What is your best advice to anyone walking the 3-Day?

The best advice is to enjoy the moment. Talk to people, listen, do the best you can do. You are not in competition with anyone else.

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What’s a fun fact about you?

I am an avid Red Wing Hockey fan. I don’t know how to sit still. I have been lucky enough to travel to Brazil and Europe and I used to teach dance.

What are the most important lessons you’ve learned on the 3-Day?

One lesson I have learned is nothing is impossible. Nothing is as bad as it seems. I have watched walkers that thought they couldn’t do 60 miles do it. I have watched survivors be stronger than they thought they could be. People touch your life for reasons we don’t always know but are grateful they did.

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