Tag Archives: breast cancer treatment

How to Use Social Media to Fundraise for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day

Fundraising for breast cancer through social media is an incredibly powerful method. With millions of people connecting daily on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, you can tap into these networks to raise awareness, inspire support, and meet (and hopefully exceed!) your fundraising goals. Here’s how to get started and make the most of social media’s potential.  

The Importance of Building Community Through Social Media

Beyond the technical aspects of setting up a fundraiser, social media is an invaluable tool for building a supportive and engaged community around your cause. Here’s how it helps: 

Create a Sense of Belonging 

Social media platforms allow you to connect with people who care about breast cancer awareness, whether they’re survivors, current patients, or supporters. By sharing your story, updates, and educational content, you create a sense of shared purpose that motivates people to act. When followers see others contributing, they feel a part of something bigger, which encourages more involvement. 

Offer Real-Time Updates 

Platforms like Instagram and Facebook allow for instant updates, so you can share real-time progress on your fundraising efforts. People feel more connected when they can see immediate impacts, whether it’s reaching a new milestone or hearing from someone directly impacted by the cause. 

Amplify Your Reach 

Social media allows your message to spread far beyond your immediate network. When someone donates or shares your post, their friends and followers see it too, creating a ripple effect. This amplification is invaluable, especially when working toward a fundraising goal. 

Foster Meaningful Engagement 

Through comments, messages, and shares, you can interact with your audience, answer questions, and deepen the relationship between your cause and your supporters. This dialogue not only helps raise funds but also builds long-term relationships that continue beyond the current campaign. 

The Technical Side: How to Set Up Fundraisers on Social Media

Social media platforms make it easier than ever to set up and manage fundraisers. Here’s a guide to using Facebook for your breast cancer fundraising efforts: 

Facebook Fundraisers 

Facebook has built-in fundraising tools that allow you to directly raise money for your chosen cause. Here’s how to set one up: 

Step 1: Log in at The3Day.org to go to your Participant Center. 

Step 2: Look for the big blue box that says “Raise Money Directly on Facebook” and click the link to edit your fundraiser content. As default, your Facebook fundraiser will have the same content as your personal 3-Day fundraising page, but you can customize it during this step. 

Step 3: Click “Save and Connect Fundraiser to Facebook.” 

Read our Facebook Fundraiser FAQ here. 

Instagram Fundraisers 

Though Instagram has a direct donation feature, this WILL NOT link to your 3-Day fundraising account. Instead, add your personal 3-Day fundraising link to your Instagram bio and share it via stories.  

Content Strategies

Content is the heart of your social media fundraising efforts. Whether it’s a compelling story, an eye-catching image, or an engaging video, what you share can inspire people to act. Authentic, well-crafted content helps build trust and foster emotional connections with your audience. Consider sharing personal experiences, facts about breast cancer, and updates on your progress to keep your supporters engaged. Use a mix of formats like posts, videos, Instagram Stories, and Reels to create dynamic content that raises awareness and encourages donations. The more authentic and creative your content, the better it will resonate with your audience and motivate them to contribute.   

Instagram Stories and Reels are quick, engaging ways to share your message and reach a wider audience. 

Stories 

Post frequent updates to show the progress of your fundraiser and add fun elements like polls, questions, or countdowns. You can even directly link your fundraising page on your stories through the features button on the top of the page.  

Reels 

Create short, inspiring videos explaining why breast cancer fundraising is important. These can feature personal testimonials, stats about breast cancer, or behind-the-scenes content of you organizing the fundraiser. 

Creative Ideas for Social Media Fundraising 

To make your social media breast cancer fundraiser stand out, it’s important to think creatively. Here are some ideas to help engage your followers and encourage donations: 

Personal Storytelling 

Nothing resonates more than personal stories. Whether you’re a survivor, a friend, or a family member, sharing your personal connection to breast cancer can deeply move others to donate. Use captions, videos, or Instagram Live sessions to tell your story and explain why fundraising for breast cancer is important to you. 

Host a Live Fundraising Event 

Leverage Facebook Live or Instagram Live to host a real-time event. This could be a virtual workout class, a cooking tutorial, or a Q&A with a breast cancer survivor or medical professional. During the event, remind viewers to donate using a link to your personal page and encourage them to share it with others. 

Create a Challenge 

Social media thrives on challenges! Create a breast cancer awareness challenge, like posting a pink-themed photo or doing 30 push-ups a day for a week and ask participants to donate or share the challenge to raise awareness. Use hashtags like #BreastCancerChallenge or #PinkChallenge to unify posts and grow momentum. 

Launch a “Tag and Donate” Campaign 

Encourage your followers to donate and tag three friends to do the same. This creates a fun, interactive chain effect that can multiply your reach and fundraising efforts. 

Incorporate Milestones  

Set fundraising milestones and offer rewards or incentives when they’re met. For example, promise to cook meals for a homeless shelter, dye your hair pink, or walk a certain number of miles if you hit a fundraising target. Sharing this on social media can motivate people to contribute just to see you reach that goal. 

Thank Your Donors Publicly 
Post regular updates thanking and tagging your donors. Everyone appreciates a thank you, and the public recognition will inspire the friends and followers who have not given you a donation yet to give, so they can get that recognition, too! 
 

Social media fundraising is an effective way to support breast cancer awareness and raise funds for research and patient care. By understanding the technical aspects of setting up fundraisers, fostering a sense of community, and using creative ideas to engage your audience, you can leverage the power of social media to make a meaningful impact in the fight against breast cancer. 

Get started today and inspire others to join the cause by sharing your story, connecting with your network, and spreading hope and support. 

My Village: The Difference Between Surviving and Being a Survivor

By Emily H.

This is my version of Emeril’s ?BAM!” I have never loved my kitchen more than I do now! It is wallpapered with cards from friends near and far who are supporting me along my breast cancer journey. It started with the first card I received that reads, ?Today’s showers bring tomorrow’s blooms.” I taped it right above my kitchen sink, somewhere I visit often, so I would see it over and over again, reminding myself this is only a part of my story. As more and more cards came in the mail I wanted a way to keep all those positive thoughts front and center. Away it grew to my whole kitchen! Words do not do my feelings justice. I have always known I had good friends and family, but when I needed them the most, they all showed up. I am both thankful and very blessed to have a village this strong! It has truly been the difference between surviving and being a Survivor. 

Community by definition is a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. To me, community is an evenly balanced group of people who share passion for the same thing. Our 3-Day community is made of all types of beings (men, women, children, and pets) who share one common goal: to spread the Pink Bubble love. We all come to the table with different goals, some want to raise money, some just want to find a cure, some need support, and some just like to walk. But all in all we are a group of people (a community) that wants the world to be a little more pink. My community support means so much that without it I would fail. I know that no matter what challenge I am faced with I can turn to that community and someone will rise to the occasion and help me succeed. 

My 3-Day journey began five years ago when I registered to walk in celebration of my mother-in-law, Lori, who had just fought her own battle with breast cancer. I quickly found a passion for FUN-raising and was able to arrive to camp a Top 10 fundraiser my first year. I fell in love with the ?Pink Bubble” and all the people who make the 3-Day happen. There were so many stories, so many hugs, and so many reasons to keep coming back. I brought my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, Heather, along with me for walk two and then a best friend, Rachelle, for year three. 2020 was our ?year off” as I call it, and I was aiming high for 2021. I wanted to reach $20,000 in lifetime donations for my five-year anniversary. And I did!

But as 2021 began I was given a new challenge, being diagnosed with breast cancer myself. My diagnosis came as a huge shock as I do not hit very many risk factors. I am only 29, had all my kids young, breastfed all my babies, no family history, and am generally in good health. But as we all know cancer does not discriminate. One more reason to keep on walking. I look forward to being reunited with my ?Pink Bubble” family in the future and know that my journey as a survivor is just beginning.

If I could only share one thing with the 3-Day family it would be don’t give up! Keep on fighting, fundraising, and spreading the Pink Bubble love. The past few years have been tough on everyone for different reasons. We all learned things and took the time to grow in personal ways. But overall as a society, I think we discovered we could all use a little work! So don’t give up and keep on fighting, for yourself, your mission, and anything and everything that brings you joy! You all bring me joy and I am so thankful. 

My Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Story

By San Diego 3-Day Walker, Niki W.

I started doing the 3-Day in 2008 because a few of my fellow teacher friends invited me. I thought it was a perfect way to fundraise money towards breast cancer research, as I had lost a couple friends to this horrible disease. I also thought it would be a great way to spend time with these friends and to get exercise. I walked in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019. I plan on walking in 2021 as well.

In the midst of everything else that 2020 brought my way, I found a very large lump in November, in my right breast.

I went in two days later, and my OBGYN said it felt too big to be cancer and not to worry about it. She scheduled some tests anyway for December but told me it was probably nothing. I cancelled my appointments and moved them to January because the December tests conflicted with our holiday plans, and I figured it didn’t matter since my doctor had said not to worry.

I finally went in for the tests on January 18 and had a mammogram, an ultrasound, and blood tests. My mammogram came out normal but they were able to see the lump on the ultrasound and my lymph nodes were very enlarged. They scheduled a biopsy for February 3. On February 5, I was walking with a friend on the beach when my OBGYN doctor called and said that I had an invasive carcinoma tumor 7X6 cm that had already spread to my lymph nodes.

I was in shock for several days and stopped sleeping and didn’t have an appetite. The next two weeks were a blur of appointments, scans, and more, as I found out that I needed to start chemo right away for six months, then surgery (double mastectomy) followed by radiation, reconstruction and hormone therapy for five-ten years.

Once I got my test results back and learned that I was only Stage 3 and the cancer had not yet moved to my organs, I was able to get my hope back! I am now continuously leaning on God each day and knowing that he is here with me through this. 

My hair started falling out in early March.  After I couldn’t take it anymore, four of my 3-Day friends arranged an outdoor haircut in my backyard so that I would have support during this traumatic time. I woke up that morning thinking that this would be the hardest day of my life, and my stomach was in knots all morning. However, when they arrived all wearing cowboy boots and hats and blasting country music (my favorite!), I couldn’t help but smile. Throughout the haircut, I was filled with gratitude for these amazing friends being with me during this really difficult time. They turned my sadness into joy, and it became one of the most special, intimate afternoons of my life.

My friends and family (and particularly my 3-Day team) have been amazing and have been here for every step along the way with cards, gifts, flowers, and meals. They even added my name to our 3-Day team logo so that we will now be walking for me as well as many other teachers from our school who have fought the battle and survived! I can’t wait to walk in November and be at the other side of this battle and able to spread my hope to others. 

My message for others is to not give up hope and to rely on your faith, family, and friends to get you through this. You can’t do it alone and you will need their support! Embrace it and don’t reject it. There will be so many blessings if you allow other people in.