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 Atlanta 3-Day Local Impact Award Winner

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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.

Char

Please join us in congratulating the 2017 Atlanta 3-Day Local Impact Award Winner, Char Wells.

Her teammate Chris Alexander is so proud of Char, and has experienced her support and 3-Day spirit first hand.

“When I was diagnosed, she and I talked, and her encouragement and advice was so helpful. She is such a special lady and I love her drive. Her determination is contiguous and her smile lights up the group!”

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

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

I had always done the “Relay for Life” but felt I could do more. Then one day I heard an ad on the radio for the 3-Day and I thought…I can do that! In December 2007 I signed up for the 2008 Walk. I walked/trained every day at lunch, and weekends but not really having a reason that I was doing this. Then in August 2008, it happened – I had breast cancer.

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

I’m so blessed to be a survivor and the atmosphere of the 3-Day is such a joy, and so heartwarming and emotional. I have said several times “maybe this year or that year will be my last one,” but then there I am walking again! I have walked with a sprained ankle; been pushed in a wheelchair for 60 miles due to a broken foot; I have walked with herniated discs in my back (just prior to surgery). We 3-Day walkers are a special kind of crazy!!

Char Pole Dancing on the 3-Day with Richard

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

Ask! Ask everyone you know. Post on Facebook, send emails, send letters, anyway and every way you have a connection to. Getting a no doesn’t hurt, you get a no just move on to the next one.

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

Train and if you can, include hills. More importantly have FUN, enjoy the celebration of everyone around you. There will be tears, but that’s ok – tears become hugs, love and laughter.

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What’s a fun fact about you?

I’m a special kind of crazy!

I’ve never met a stranger and I so enjoy talking to people and getting to know them.

I love spending time with my family and friends.

When I have down time I like to play games, read or quilt.

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

You are NOT ALONE.

Share your love, give hugs!

It’s OK to sweep (take it from someone who walked with herniated discs in her back and

ended up putting her head on a wall, bursting into tears because she was so dang

determine to complete the walk) IT’S OK TO SWEEP.

Insight Into Komen’s 2017 Research Grants

This year, Komen announced $30.7 million in research funding for 98 research grants which will mostly focus on discovering new treatments and improving our understanding of the most lethal forms of breast cancer – helping us move closer to achieving our Bold Goal.

For the first time, Komen will be giving members of the public an opportunity to directly fund specific research by participating in a crowdfunding initiative on Komen’s website.

We wanted to share with you the grant process and how the 2017 portfolio breaks down this year since 75% of net proceeds from your fundraising support this research and we could not accomplish any of this work without you.

Peer-Review

Komen has a renowned peer-review process – lead by Komen’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) – that ensures the organization is funding the best and most imperative forms of research. Advocates and breast cancer patients also take part in peer-review, to ensure all aspects of breast cancer needs are being covered. You can learn more about peer-review here.

The 2017 research grants came through the request for applications (RFA) issued last year, prior to the Bold Goal announcement in September of 2016. Still, 41.3% of Komen’s grants are focusing on metastatic breast cancer research and 54.4% of grants are focusing on new treatments.

The 2018 process for new proposals began in April and all applications submitted were asked to directly support Komen’s efforts towards the Bold Goal. Researchers were invited to submit projects that addressed metastasis or resistance to current therapies.

This Year

In 2017, Komen research funding went to institutions in 27 states and across 8 countries. The majority of grants are focusing on new screening technologies, metastatic and aggressive types of breast cancer and understanding and addressing disparities in breast cancer. By targeting metastatic disease – which is responsible for almost all of the nation’s 40,000 annual breast cancer deaths – Komen is hoping to reduce breast cancer deaths in the U.S. dramatically. To date, Komen has funded more than $180 million in metastatic breast cancer research. 2017 funding also includes $17.6 million to early-career investigators which helps to ensure a continuum of breast cancer research across generations.

Komen’s 2017 portfolio includes*:

37 grants expanding our knowledge of metastatic breast cancer and how to better treat it or prevent it;
42 grants looking into triple negative breast cancer, an aggressive subtype of breast cancer; 59 grants focused on new therapies;
24 investigating drug resistance (why drugs stop working in some patients);
9 on disparities in breast cancer outcomes;
As well as projects investigating inflammatory breast cancer, early detection, prevention, Big Data and more.

Crowdfunding

This fall, Komen is making it possible for supporters to make a personal impact on breast cancer research. During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Komen will highlight four metastatic breast cancer researchers and encourage donations to their specific grants. More information on the crowdfunding initiative will be announced in October.

Thank You!

When you walk and raise money you are making a direct contribution to our grants. Funds that you raise through 3-Day could support a young scientist for a day working toward finding the cures, or could support an oncologist for a day as they run clinical trials to find the cures for breast cancer. We could not fund potentially lifesaving research without your help and support. Thank you for the impact that you make here at Komen and always being More Than Pink.

You can learn more about Komen’s 2017 funding here.