Tag Archives: BC Babes

Congratulations to Michigan 3-Day Local Impact Award Winner: Jennifer F.

For the 2015 Susan G. Komen 3-Day® season, we’re pleased to be featuring a new recognition on each Komen 3-Day event: 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, supporting the 3-Day staff year-round at meet-ups and workshops, and in general, making a difference by building lasting relationships and showing commitment to the 3-Day in all they do.

The Michigan 3-Day Local Impact award winner was crew member Jennifer F. Jenn served the Michigan 3-Day this year—her 25th 3-Day event—as the Senior Captain of Route Teams, leading and supporting roughly a dozen crew teams on the route. A member of the BC Babes team in Michigan, Jenn has raised $21,916 in her 11 years of involvement with the 3-Day. In addition to crewing an incredible 20 events, she has also been a 3-Day walker five times.Susan g. komen 3-Day breast cancer walk blog local impact award michigan jennifer frederick

Nurturing by nature, Jenn grew up on farm and showed horses for 20 years before moving to Michigan. She got involved in the 3-Day for a simple and powerful reason: she woke up one morning to the startling realization that there are only eight women in her family and, of course, breast cancer affects one in eight. That was all it took, and since making that decision to become part of the 3-Day in 2004, she hasn’t quit in her passionate dedication. Even Jenn’s “regular” job is focused on helping others; she owns a fundraising company and prints cancer event fundraising shirts, which countless 3-Day participants (among many others) have used to raise money for wonderful causes.

Jeanette J., the Route Safety Crew Captain in Michigan, had this to say about Jenn: “She is a dynamic leader with a great big heart. She’s out on the route and taking care of us like a momma bear–delivering lunches, water, healthy snacks as necessary, making sure we’re taking breaks (sometimes standing in at our corner so that we can), and helping out when one of our bikes breaks down. She even escorts our crew’s group ride back into camp to ensure our safety–no woman or man left behind! Jenn is a priceless resource to us while on the 3-Day event, and a great person that I’m proud to call a friend!”

Congratulations, Jenn, and on behalf of the entire 3-Day family, thank you for your commitment.

BC Babes: Fundraising Powerhouse

Spaghetti dinners. Car washes. Restaurant nights. Bake sales. Garage sales. Facebook. These are all ways that the BC Babes, a Michigan powerhouse team that is currently 42 members strong, have raised money for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. They boldly set their goal high – aiming to get as close to $1,000,000 as they could.

The BC Babes includes 25 walkers, 16 crew members, and 1 Youth Corps member, and is led by co-captains Beth and Heather. We had some time to talk to Beth about the BC Babes and their quest for reaching this goal (as of the time I write this, they’ve currently raised nearly $946,000), and we hope you find their story as inspiring as we do!

Members of the BC Babes at the 2014 Michigan 3-Day

Members of the BC Babes at the 2014 Michigan 3-Day

Beth’s Komen 3-Day journey began as a family affair.

“The first year I walked with my oldest sister, Debbie, then my youngest sister, Michelle, (2003) and my third year walking (2005) I convinced by middle sister, Jeanne, to walk with me, and the BC Babes were born. I had met several other first time walkers at a Get Started Meeting and they asked if they could train with us since I had already done the walk several times and over the course of the first few months of training my sister and I formed the team.

“Over the years, I’ve had four teammates diagnosed with breast cancer, either during or after their 3-Day experience (thankfully, all are survivors today). Last year we lost our first teammate, Sr. Carol Juhasz, to breast cancer,” she said. “One of our newest Babes, Tracey A., walked in her first 3-Day last year. Her mother was a breast cancer survivor and she also had a cousin undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Tracey was walking to support these wonderful women in her life and came to our team through a 3-Day Meet-Up. After that evening Tracey came out and trained with the Babes, joining our team shortly after that first meeting. Her mom’s cancer came back late last year and has undergone treatment/surgery since that time and is doing very well. Tracey will once again be a part of the BC Babes family knowing the monies raised through this amazing weekend is one of the reasons her mom and cousin are here with her today,” she said.

These very personal reasons serve as a driving force for how Beth is able to manage her team and inspire them all to fundraise and train. “I monitor the fundraising of the team on a regular basis. If I see someone is not progressing I talk with them to make sure they’ve got a letter our or a fundraising strategy in place. As team, while training, we offer a variety of suggestions to help them if they’ve hit a dry spell. We’re always there to help anyone who is truly making their best effort to fundraise, and we do want to see that you have put this [fundraising] as a priority in your 3-Day adventure,” she said.

Beth is also quick to point out that she couldn’t lead the team on her own, and applauds her co-captain, Heather, for helping to keep this amazing team on track. “Heather has been my co-captain and fellow training walk leader for about 6 years now. We mostly keep in contact with the team through emails, but since both Heather and I are training walk leaders we see the Babes on a regular basis at training walks and keep up with them while walking,” she said.

Members of the BC Babes yesterday with Dr. Sheri Prentiss, National Spokesperson for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day

Members of the BC Babes yesterday with Dr. Sheri Prentiss, National Spokesperson for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day

And what does it feel like, to look out among the sea of pink on Friday morning, and know that more than 42 people in the crowd are part of the BC babes? “It’s an amazing feeling. I’ve been blessed to have been a part of the Opening Ceremony several times and seeing my Babes family out there warms my heart! The love, dedication and kindness they show not only to fellow Babes but to the entire 3-Day family just makes me happy!” On behalf of the entire 3-Day family, we thank people like the BC Babes and all of you, for doing everything you can to help end breast cancer forever.