Happy New Year and welcome to 2017!

As we start another year of walking, fundraising and fighting breast cancer, it’s important to take this transitional time to look back—and look forward.

Last year, we had more than 6,500 walkers and 1,800 crew members at our seven walks. We had countless first-time walkers and even more returning veterans who walked 60 miles in sun and rain, up hills and through city streets.

All of this, every step and night spent in a pink tent, all is going towards a common purpose. It’s all adding up to one huge impact that will help Komen reach their Bold Goal: to reduce the current number of breast cancer deaths by 50% in the U.S. by 2026.

It’s important to always keep that goal in mind. It’s also important to keep those affected by breast cancer in your hearts. Survivors, families, friends, and especially those who have been lost.

A few years ago, we created a video of walkers who took part in the 3-Day in memory of a loved one lost. They carry the memory of those people in their hearts. They told us their stories, and read passages from the famous E.E. Cummings poem, [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]. It’s a powerful message to never forget why we walk.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncbKJPkhDlU&w=560&h=315]

I know I personally am honored to be the 3-Day’s Senior Social Media Coordinator this year! I am new to the 3-Day team, but I am thrilled to be working with such an amazing community. Your dedication, positive attitude and support of each other are at the heart of our cause. Each and every one of you are the reason I love my job!

I am looking forward to getting to know and connecting with all of you throughout this season and whole year. Whether this is your first walk or you are a seasoned veteran, I am here to answer your questions, help you achieve your fundraising goals, and share all your accomplishments with our online community. Follow along with our social media channels on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube to catch all our great posts leading up to, during and after the 3-Day!

Until I can meet you at one of the upcoming 2017 3-Days, I know you all will be carrying love in your hearts, just as I carry it in mine. You will be carrying the love of those who walk alongside you, who walked before you, and in whose memory you walk.

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

                                                      i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)