On Friday morning, a brilliant blue-tinged sunrise illuminated the smiling faces of over 2,600 walkers ready to take the first steps of their 60-mile journey starting at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
Towering palm trees lined the paths to the coast, as walkers breathed in fresh sea air on their way to the cheering stations and pit stops, which paved the way for our entrance into the idyllic Torrey Pines State Park, known notoriously for its giant hills but also its sweeping views.
At mile 10.6, the UCSD Scripps Institute of Oceanography cheered us on with joyful enthusiasm and pompoms, and then it was on to lunch at Kellogg Park. Our final pit stops of the day, at La Jolla Lutheran Church and Christ Lutheran Church kept us fueled up with grahamwiches and sports drink, and we loved the La Jolla Cove seals, who barked as walkers selfied.
After an amazing day of 20.5 miles, back in camp at Crown Point Shores Park, we were treated to a moving speech by survivor Heather, 7-time walker and currently battling stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room, and we all walked back to our tents inspired to pound the pavement strongly on Day 2.
Walkers worked out their aches and pains the first few miles of Day 2 with photo opps with friendly creatures from Sea World! A barn owl, a screech owl, a porcupine, and a river otter were along the path, along with the Sea World Mascot, ready to strike a pose with our fabulous 3-Dayers.
From Sea World it was past Robb and Ocean Beach Fields, and then Pit Stop 2, at the top of a scenic vista at Sunset View Elementary, leading to a wonderful downward stretch back along the coast.
Lunch at Bonita Cova was muy bonita, and filled with amusements, from Chippendales dancer straight from Las Vegas, to thousands of vibrant Gerbera Daises being gifted to our strong walkers and crew. The San Diego Police Department also entertained us with a long and rockin’ dance party.
The way out of lunch gifted us with friendly pets and licks from therapy dogs, and then onward to South Mission Beach Park and Belmont Park. 
Pit Stop 4 at Fanuel Park was aloha, and as walkers hydrated and stretched, they said Mahalo to the Pit Stop and Aloha to the famous Cookie Lady, passing out hundreds of homemade cookies.
The last two miles brought us through our inspiring Survivor Stretch, lined with the warriors of breast cancer, inspiring us to go on. Back in Camp, we honored and celebrated our 2016 Award Winners, and then danced the night away with our Youth Corps before retiring to our pink tents to drift off to dream of a world free of breast cancer forever.
At 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, we were all on our way toward Pit Stop 1 at De Anza Cove, and then the jubilant cheering station at the Mission Bay Park Visitor Information Center. The South Shore Park housed our Pit Stop 2, which at 7.1 miles, was where blisters were treated by our handy medical crew, water bottles were refilled, and the Youth Corps cheered up tired walkers with silly jokes and their energetic cheering.
From Pit Stop 2 we began our walk into Old Town San Diego, where we started the ascent up the fabled Juan Street hill, aided by local Mexican restaurants serving free chips and salsa.
Though the hill was challenging, we were applauded by survivors carrying signs saying “People like you saved my life”, spectators passing out sliced pickles, and adorable dogs in pink shirts.
We loved the mansions towering over San Diego on our way into lunch at Pioneer Park, where salads and sandwiches helped us get ready for our final four miles of the day.
The stunning Balboa Park housed cheering stations and our Pit Stop 3, where we posed with bronze statues, stretched, and then snapped pictures at the beautiful mile 59 marker drawn in chalk before our final two miles into Waterfront Park.
After 15.6 miles on Day 3, we marched proudly into the twilight of Closing Ceremony, surrounded by sweeping palm trees and our loved ones. Dusk descended upon the 3,000 people gathered in the park, and Dr. Sheri and Amber Livingston told us the astounding news that with our 2,600 walkers and 350 crew, we raised $7.6 million dollars. As we hugged and celebrated and danced, our message rang loud and clear; that though our feet may ache, our spirit, our tenacity, and our 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, San Diego. We are so very proud of you.
If you’re ready to be a part of this incredible journey again in 2017, sign up now for just $35 at The3Day.org/Register.
And big congratulations to Friends With Heart, which was both the largest team on the Philadelphia 3-Day (57 members) and the top fundraising team, with $93,563 raised this year. This new team is made up of members of two former Philly 3-Day teams: Breast Friends of Pennsylvania and Men With Heart. The lifetime amount raised by Friends With Heart—$915,663—is reflective of what the newly combined team, under their prior names, has raised since 2004. Friends With Heart was captained by Frank McSorley and Sharon Slosarik.
Kathleen has been part of the 3-Day for 11 years, with this year’s Philadlephia walk being her 12th event. In that time, she has raise $68,372, and as captain of Team Girlapalooza, has led the team to an astonishing total of over $1 million raised in the team’s history. With that kind of achievement, you’d think that 3-Daying was Kathleen’s full-time job, but she also finds time to serve as a licensed tour guide in Washington, DC (yes, her training walks do often become tours as well), and to cultivate her loves for Bruce Springsteen, Diet Dr. Pepper and blue Bic pens. Kathleen’s Team Girlapalooza co-founder, best friend and “name twin” Kathleen R. shared, “What sums up Kathleen the most, especially in regard to the 3-Day, is that she helps those around her be more successful though her generous sharing of her time, experience, creativity and passion. Her motivation and inspiration are unparalleled.” Julie, another friend and teammate, also told us, “I first met Kathleen when she attended one of my training walks over a decade ago. A few years later, we reconnected when Team Girlapalooza walked in that year’s Washington, DC 3-Day. At that event, a friendship began that grows stronger with each passing day. Kathleen is fiercely loyal – to her family, to her friends, to her faith, and to the causes she believes in. At the top of her list of causes are the 3-Day and eradicating breast cancer in our lifetime. Kathleen’s crowning achievement as team captain is the team’s fundraising success – raising over ONE MILLION DOLLARS in total since our first walk as a team. We would not have achieved that milestone without her leadership, coaching and support. I am proud to be a member of Team Girlapalooza and am grateful to call Kathleen my friend.” Congratulations, Kathleen, and thank you for all you do for the 3-Day!
Rosaria is a 10-year 3-Day participant, and this year’s Philly event was her 10th event. She has been an integral part of the Philadelphia crew, serving in a variety of roles but most recently, returning as the Senior Captain of Route teams for the past 3 years. She organizes the annual 3-Day Reunion party and is truly committed to building a 3-Day family and encouraging crew and walkers alike to return year after year. She is a strong leader, an excellent example of an ideal crew member and a great asset for us to cultivate leadership, community and awareness for the Philadelphia 3-Day. Becky, one of Rosaria’s good friends, said this about her: “I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Rosaria until my second or third year as a walker. She was always so busy running around, I never saw her my first year, nor did I realize just how much she did for the event. When I think of Rosaria, the first word that comes to mind is ‘selfless.’ She spends time and money each year supporting others in the event – donating to help others meet the minimum to walk, making cards, answering questions from other crew members, dealing with various issues and problems with hardly a whisper of complaint. Rosaria truly has a heart full of love and it is an honor and an inspiration to know her.” Another friend, Christine, added, “Rosaria is a kind, gentle soul. She is thoughtful, caring and will go to great lengths to cover all bases. Despite her battles and losses, she continues to give of herself. Rosaria always has a way of looking on the bright side. I admire that in a person and am proud to call her my friend.” We’re proud to have you as part of our 3-Day family too, Rosaria. Congratulations!
And big congratulations to Feet to Beat Breast Cancer, Atlanta’s top fundraising team, with $54,724 raised this year. In their 12 years as a team, they have raised $698,774. Feet to Beat Breast Cancer is captained by Carolyn Parks and had 18 team members this year.
Alison has been a remarkable 3-Day participant for 12 years; the 2016 Atlanta 3-Day, where Alison was part of the Camp Support crew team, was Alison’s 24th 3-Day event. In her lifetime as a 3-Dayer, Alison has worn dozens of hats (figuratively and literally, as she is usually in a costume of some kind), both as a walker and a crew member, and has personally raised over $56,000 for the 3-Day. Her friend and fellow crew member, Jake, said about Alison, “Talk about being dedicated to the cause… I am pretty sure when Alison sweats at the 3-Day, it comes out pink.She has been a captain for one of the largest and most logistically challenging crews for as long as I can remember. Then she started taking her talents all over the country to captain other crew teams in other 3-Day cities. Alison may be small, but she has a big fire within her. And when that fire is pointed at you: watch out! I’m just glad she is pointing that fire at breast cancer.” Another crew friend, Julie, shared this about Alison: “Through the years, events, and shared experiences with Alison, I continue to grow more in awe of her. Each year she dedicates her time to multiple 3-Day events, often as a Crew Captain.I joined the staff of the Greater Atlanta Affiliate of Susan G. Komen in 2014. And now, every day, I meet people who can afford a mammogram thanks to Alison. There are people across this country, and maybe even the world, who are alive today because Alison cared enough to step up to the challenge of walking and crewing those 24 3-Days, and because she knew that raising a minimum amount of money was just the beginning of what she could do, so she boldly chose to push for more.” Congratulations, Alison, and thank you for your amazing spirit and your years of commitment to the 3-Day!
The recipient of the 2016 Atlanta 3-Day Local Impact award has truly made her mark on the Atlanta 3-Day family. Carolyn Parks first walked the 3-Day in Atlanta in 2001, and has since walked in Atlanta (and nowhere else) 12 times, achieving a lifetime fundraising total of $52,700. Carolyn’s friend Mandy said this about her amazing friend: “Carolyn is the most caring and compassionate person I know! Her constant and tireless commitment to put others before herself makes her such an inspiration to more people than she probably realizes. Year after year, not only does Carolyn continue to lead the top fundraising team for the Atlanta 3-Day, she is constantly giving back to her community through her work with Meals on Wheels, American Red Cross and other local charities. Carolyn brings hope to us all and she truly wants to make a difference.” Carolyn is also the team captain of Feet to Beat Breast Cancer, the top fundraising team in Atlanta this year. Her her friend and teammate, Debbie, shared, “I’m not sure I have met anyone more dedicated to the 3-Day than Carolyn. We met when my five friends decided to walk the 3-Day because I was going through breast cancer and chemo. As luck (or fate) would have it, they joined her team (Feet To Beat Breast Cancer) and she made our first 3-Day experience incredible. Carolyn always puts others before herself and is constantly thinking of fundraising ideas because of her commitment to this cause and to helping others. I am so grateful that Carolyn was one of the people sent to me during my fight with cancer. She inspires me to be a better person every day and I know the whole Feet To Beat Team feels the same way.” You inspire us too, Carolyn! Thank you for your incredible dedication to the 3-Day!