Donna Lawson: Compassion, Community, Commitment

Donna Lawson was recognized on the Susan G. Komen Chicago 3-Day with the Milestone Award for her efforts in finding a cure for breast cancer

Donna Lawson was recognized on the Susan G. Komen Chicago 3-Day with the Milestone Award for her efforts in the fight to end breast cancer

When asked what was the secret to her fundraising success, this year’s Susan G. Komen Chicago 3-Day Milestone Award winner Donna Lawson simply replied: “I am blessed with thoughtful and generous people in my life who have continued to support me year after year . . . Some start asking if I am [participating in the 3-Day] again at the beginning of the year so they can plan for a donation later. I send letters through the old-fashioned US Postal Service with a self-addressed envelope and a donation form. My letter provides an update on the last walk, a ‘thank you’ to those who have donated previously, facts about breast cancer, and Susan G. Komen^® efforts. I always send a hand-written thank you note to each person who donated, no matter what the amount.”

Donna’s humble and personal approach reflects her personality and is likely a driving factor in both her motivation for fighting breast cancer and her substantial fundraising ability. Her efforts, along with her children and teams, have topped $100,000 over 12 Komen 3-Day events! “I am a breast cancer survivor, and I knew a few people who had done the walk previously,” recounts Donna. “After the first 3-Day our family was addicted to the feelings during our first experience and wanted to continue that as long as we could.”

Donna Lawson waits backstage in preparation for the Opening Ceremony at the Chicago 3-Day

Seasoned as she is in the 3-Day^® and in fundraising, Donna encourages new walkers to “absorb and enjoy” the feeling of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, to meet people and hear their stories and of course, to keep dry socks in plastic bags. She reiterates, “If you are not moved by the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, I would be shocked!” What does the Chicago 3-Day mean to Donna Lawson? “Compassion. Community. Commitment.”

Congratulations to the 2013 Chicago 3-Day Milestone Award winner Donna Lawson!

Keeping it in the Family

One family. Three Crew Members. One Youth Corps. Two Pit Stops. Chicago time.

For the Carrillo family, the Susan G. Komen Chicago 3-Day is a family affair. If you happen to be walking the 60-mile journey through the greater Chicago area today to help find the cure for breast cancer, you’ll certainly stop through Pit Stop 4, which is led by Saralyn Carrillo and helped by husband Julio Carrillo. Saralyn is a two-time survivor of breast cancer. By the way, Pit Stop 3 is led by her daughter Alex. Oh, and did I mention that her son Andrew is the top fundraiser for Youth Corps on this event (raising over $2000)? What a family!

Saralyn Carrillo stands on stage at the Opening Ceremony of Chicago's 2013 Susan G. Komen 3-Day®

Saralyn Carrillo is surrounded by her family at the Opening Ceremony of the Susan G. Komen Chicago 3-Day (left to right: Julio, Alex, Saralyn, Andrew)

“I felt like I should pay back the system,” says Saralyn. “I had a mammogram on September 11, 2001, which had a tiny lesion, and my doctor told me to followup in a year. When I did, there were dozens of lesions. After a biopsy showed that they were positive for cancer, I elected to have a double mastectomy.” Saralyn started walking the Komen 3-Day in 2005 as appreciation for all of the information she had gleaned from the Susan G. Komen^® website and for the general cause to find a cure. This is her 7th year walking the 3-Day^®. Saralyn had a second bout with breast cancer only this year; she noticed a lump above the area of reconstruction and underwent an additional surgery, fortunately, having clean margins. Amazingly, she is a crew captain this week even though she is two weeks into a six-week course of chemotherapy. Even after all this, she remains upbeat and positive for the future!

Saralyn Carrillo joins hands with other breast cancer survivors at the Opening Ceremony of the Chicago 3-Day

Julio is helping the Pit Stop 4 crew this weekend, and to the surprise of his wife yesterday, was also a flag bearer in the Opening Ceremony, proudly representing husbands everywhere with a flag marked “My Wife” this morning before the large crowd. After supporting his wife through her ordeals, he urges other husbands to get educated: “Have your wife get a mammogram and find out all you can about breast cancer. I was scared to death; ignorance is fear. We have peace of mind now.”

Go Carrillo Family!

Thank You Cleveland!

“I can’t believe it!” quipped a walker at 6 a.m. on Friday morning. “It’s always raining during the Opening Ceremony in Cleveland and look at this!” Indeed, Dock 32 appeared pristine as the walkers gathered and the sun peeked above the beautiful city of Cleveland for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day^®. The dedicated community of supporters of the Komen 3-Day here were electrified by the stories of survivors and poured out onto the streets of Cleveland in excellent weather and even better spirits. (See photographs from the event here.)

A walker reaches pit stop 1, greeted by the cheering crew on the Cleveland 3-Day

After passing the stadiums of Cleveland and moving out near the lake’s edge west of the city, walkers pushed into the neighborhoods of Lakewood and Rocky River and towards Westlake Recreation Center, which would be home for the next two nights. Both singers and dancers entertained the crowd during dinner and during a great camp show. What a great way to end Day 1!

The last walker of Day 2 is greeted by Dr. Sheri and the camp after the raising of the flag

After what could be called no less than a torrential rain overnight, the resilient walkers set out their bedding to dry while they took on the 21.5-mile route on Day 2, complete with two cheerleading stations, many private companies and families (thank you!) and warm weather. Local dancers and singers again prepped the crowd for the evening, which included touching stories from participants, tributes to fundraisers, and fun games from sponsors New Balance and Bank of America.

The 2013 Cleveland 3-Day camp is illuminated at sunrise

With only a few showers overnight, the walkers were treated to an exceptional sunrise and a 16.9-mile route that led through the beautiful Valley Parkway. Special thanks to the friends, family and community who showed their support at some great cheering stations on Day 3! If the walkers were weary, they didn’t show it as they marched triumphantly into the Closing Ceremony amid cheers and hugs. The crowd fell silent as shoes were lifted high by the walkers in deference to those survivors of breast cancer in the Survivors’ Circle. The crowd went wild after the announcement of $1.3 million raised by Cleveland for the fight to end breast cancer. Thank you to the dedicated community of Cleveland!