Let’s Keep It Going! Beginning Your Fundraising Journey for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day

Welcome to part two of our fundraising how-two series!

This week, we’ll be talking about how to start your fundraising. By the time you’re reading this, the New England 3-Day, our very first of the 2023 season, is exactly 64 days away, with Denver and Chicago close on its heels. Although that may seem like plenty of time, it’ll be here before you know it. That said, a sense of urgency is your best friend as you work to meet or exceed your fundraising goals. But where to begin?

Spotlight: Check out this handy guide on Raising $2,300 in 2 Months!

Whether this is your first walk or your 101^st, The3Day.org can serve as your central hub for help. The fundraising page hosts a wide range of invaluable resources to help orient you on this journey. Trying to utilize social media for your campaign and want to know what to post? Check the Fundraising page. Need 101 different appeal ideas, or are you attempting to meet your $2,300 goal in one month? Fundraising page. Searching for sample solicitation letters to get in touch with a local business? Fundraising page. From outreach templates to thank you notes and everything in between, the 3-Day fundraising page serves as a comprehensive online resource, along with all of the tools in your Participant Center.

If you’re like some participants, fundraising for the 3-Day could be the first time you’ve ever raised money for an event. Not to fear! Taking care of things early means you can free up mental space and energy to focus all of your attention on training. Approaching your fundraising with strategy and careful planning can make all the difference. For example, rather than asking a potential donor, “Hey, I’m walking the Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day in October, would you like to donate?”, be as specific as possible! “I’m aiming to raise $3,000 [or whatever your fundraising goal is — name a specific amount] by the end of July. Can I count on you to make a donation of $60 today?” Do you have 23 family members that you can ask for $100? Are there 46 friends who could support you with $50 each? Asking for a specific amount, and asking big, is the best way to get you to your goals faster. Whatever the denomination and whomever the patron base is, thinking critically about how to best navigate the landscape can be just the move to put the winds in your sails.

Regardless of your preferred methods or how you choose to space out different milestones, the biggest stride you can take toward success is simply getting started. Go for that initial ask, make your first donation follow up, and don’t be afraid to tap into your network. While there are many people just waiting to support you, life can get busy! Even with the best intentions, your donors can forget to revisit Facebook fundraisers, or lose track of email requests. You will have to ask more than once or twice. Be brave in how you approach family, friends, and community members, and just as you push your body to cover more and more ground each week during training, you can push yourself more and more to march toward your fundraising target.

The money we raise is invaluable to the individuals and their loved ones supported by Susan G. Komen. Your efforts are instrumental in the funding of research, as well as patient care and advocacy, all of which help us in the fight against breast cancer. These real efforts impact real people and are fueled by the fundraising dollars you raise!

Stay tuned for our July post as we dive into part three of our series and, in the meantime, check out part one. As always, feel free to share your thoughts and drop a comment below!

To recap:

Tip #1 — Check out the fundraising page. If you’re in search of creative ideas or need a bit of structure, this resource is sure to act as your starting point and guide you in the right direction.

Tip #2 — Stick to your plan. The equation for donations is pretty simple: your solicitations + support from your community = you hitting your goal! Take a moment to map out the time you have, the people you know, and the dollars you need. If you do your math correctly, your solution will come that much easier.

Tip #3 — The best way to build momentum is by moving! If you don’t know who to start with, consider your last call or text message. Chances are, you were just speaking with someone who’d love to help you on your quest.

June Pink Bubble Story of the Month – Brooke M.

At its core, the power of the 3-Day is in how it connects people and how those connections expand the community and help in the fight to end breast cancer. When on event, the Pink Bubble is a sight to behold, a sea of participants wearing all shades of pink. From Boston to San Diego, coast to coast, our host cities are left coated in the hard-won sweat and tears that pour out of this amazing community. We see parents walking with their children, friends with friends, and spouses with each other. And as beautiful as it is to witness these face-to-face relationships, those we’ve lost also come along with us on the journey. For Brooke M., being a part of the 3-Day Pink Bubble meant not only honoring a loved one but, ultimately, forging a new, yet unexpected connection.

In 1991 Brooke’s dear friend, Wendy F., died of breast cancer. She was in her early 30s and left behind four children under the age of six: a son, a daughter, and a set of twins. For her family and Brooke and other friends, everyone who knew and loved Wendy was devastated. Brooke stayed in contact with Wendy’s husband for a few years, but they lost touch after he moved and Brooke had no forwarding address to write to. And although years passed, Brooke never truly forgot her friend.

When Brooke first saw an advertisement for the 3-Day, she was looking for an opportunity to exercise more (to relieve stress from a tough corporate job) and to give her energy to a worthy cause. The 3-Day sounded like a perfect fit to meet both needs — all while honoring Wendy at the same time.

So, Brooke walked and fundraised for years — all over the U.S. Eventually, the name of her team became “4LittleWendy”. About ten years later, this routine was disrupted when she got a seemingly random contribution that immediately grabbed her attention. The donor? A young woman named Laura who shared the same last name as Wendy. Brooke’s heart immediately stopped. It turns out, Laura was Wendy’s daughter and worked for Susan G. Komen in the Midwest. On the anniversary of her mother’s death, she had googled Wendy and somehow Brooke’s 3-Day fundraising page popped up. She was completely shocked to find that this woman in California who she didn’t even know had been walking and raising money in her mother’s name for a decade.

Brooke and Laura started corresponding, and in 2010 they both attended the Chicago 3-Day together. The experience, while heart-affirming, was also heartbreaking. Laura was the spitting image of her mother and was the same age that her mom was when she and Brooke first connected in California. It really brought the tragedy of this terrible disease into focus: Brooke had gone on to live a wonderful life with fond memories of Wendy, but Laura had lived her whole life without her mother, relying on hazy recollections as she struggled to find her way in her early 20s. They had a good week together, but each went home a little overwhelmed by the reality of the breadth and depth of their loss.

Still, Brooke and Laura kept in touch, mainly through Christmas cards. Laura went on to finish college and get married, thriving through her young adulthood. And if there’s one thing Brooke’s sure of, it’s that Wendy would be proud of her daughter.

Through the experience of fundraising, training, and walking the 3-Day, there are any number of surprises that might lie in wait for any participant. Maybe you finally convince that one friend to join your team, or your child lets you know that they’re deeply interested in joining the Youth Corps. These are shining moments that can strike like lightning, quick and powerful, immediately changing your year, or maybe even your life. For Brooke, that meant being found by and then walking in lockstep with the child of a dear friend. There’s so much magic that will reveal itself to you in the Pink Bubble as you bond with those around you. While you won’t see it coming every time, if you keep your eyes, ears, and heart open, it will always find you — right on schedule.

Laura (left) and Brooke (right) carried banners at the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Chicago 3-Day.

Revamp Your Training: Four Fun Ways to Keep Your 3-Day Preparation Lively and Fresh

Spring has finally sprung, and that can only mean one thing: 3-Day training walk season is in full swing! As the atmosphere shakes off its winter coat and the flowers come into full bloom, your training, while still demanding, is transitioning into a (hopefully) lush and verdant ritual. However, while the days march onward, and your go-to routes lose a bit of their luster, there’s a small chance that monotony is setting in. Well, stop right there! This post is dedicated to four small, but effective methods to reimagine your approach to training and have some fun along the journey.

Spielbergin’ It

Close your eyes and picture this scene: it’s a Monday and it’s time to get your first mile in. You tie your shoes, fill up your water bottle, grab your keys, and head out the door. Imagine yourself summiting those concrete mountains and traipsing through the quiet valleys. You cross through crowded city streets or speed through quiet country intersections. Your gaze is steady, footsteps even, and determination apparent. Now, imagine sharing this footage with those in your circle. An email blast to coworkers who’ve made contributions to your fundraising goal with the video attached. A Facebook post, with all of the potential likes and sharing opportunities, displayed for your pals, and maybe your pals’ pals, near and far on the internet. You shoot a quick text to your family group message, showcasing just where you are on your expedition. It’s one thing to tell previous and potential donors about your training, but it’s another to give them a front row seat. Whether you record over the course of one day, or make a montage across the entire month, harnessing video as a tool can be a powerful visualizer in allowing people to see a boots on the ground perspective. Every step is a story, so allowing people to read a few pages from your book could be a fantastic gesture.

The Buddy System

Walking solo can be an amazing solitary activity. However, there’s much to be gained in finding a buddy or two to train with. If you’re used to lacing up on your own, why not find a walking companion for a change of pace? Perhaps you’re part of a nearby team that could coordinate to meet and train together. Is there a pet you’ve been meaning to take a trot with? Or, as a means of incorporating a fundraising incentive, repurpose your preparation as a tool to engage with donors. (Something along the lines of, “For this week only, make a donation of $X or more for the chance to spend a mile on route with me!”) Whether you walk as a member of a pair, a trio, or a whole crew, take advantage of the community waiting to surround you.

3-Day Your Way

If you’re like many other walkers, odds are, prepping for the 3-Day has made you a bit more appreciative and aware of where you live. Maybe training has landed you in a park that you’d never visited before, or perhaps you’ve rediscovered an oceanfront view that you’d forgotten. Hiking trails, beautiful neighborhoods, whatever it may be, it’s likely that you, in your own way, have found approaches to make training in your hometown both challenging and engaging. So, if you were given the reins, how would you map out a 3-Day in your city? Do you walk through that one museum’s public art installation? Make treks that take you seaside, passing through the harbor? How about exploring your favorite district with all the cute bookstores and coffee shops? Whatever the route, plan to your heart’s content and get moving! Try to balance major highlights with spots that other natives from your neck of the woods might overlook. Keep in mind that although there may be some locals attending your walk, there will be plenty of people migrating from out of town, so try to see things from their perspective and proceed accordingly. (Make sure to dazzle them!) Need inspiration? Read our What Goes into Planning Those 60 Miles blog post!

Links to the Past

The 3-Day Blog has a number of great posts under our training tag. From thematic suggestions and season-specific tips, to music playlist recommendations and advice for new walkers, a whole host of invaluable topics are covered through this online resource. Take a deep dive and explore previous blog entries that might help offer some breaths of inspiration. The information could be brand new to you, or a perfectly timed reminder, but in either case, never forget that you have a diverse toolkit just waiting for you to utilize. Between the blog, your coach, and your fellow walkers, you are not alone! You can always reach out to gain insight on how others are adding some color to their weekly training walks as well.

As communal as the 3-Day is, it’s also an intensely personal undertaking. That said, there’s no “right” or “wrong” way to engage with the Pink Bubble ? and that includes how you train. If you’re a straight shooter who thrives on walking with nothing more than the wind on your face, and the sun at your back, then you do you! If you need something like a costume or consistently changing environments to add a bit of spice, then that’s okay too. Keep pushing yourself, stay focused, and find the motivators that best suit your needs. Whatever you settle on, we’ll be with you every step of the process.