Spring into Action: Susan G. Komen 3-Day Fundraising Ideas

As the birds begin chirping and the flowers bloom, it’s the perfect time to amplify your fundraising efforts as we gear up for the 2024 Susan G. Komen 3-Day® season. We’re dedicated to making a difference, and with spring in full swing, there’s no shortage of creative ways to rally support and raise funds. Here are some exciting ideas to get you started.

Host a Sports Tournament

With the weather warming and the sun setting later each day, it’s the perfect time for some friendly competition. Rally sports enthusiasts and philanthropists alike by hosting a tournament to raise money for the Komen 3-Day. Whether it’s basketball, golf, baseball, or pickleball, charge a participation fee or encourage teams to fundraise leading up to the event. It’s a fun and active way to raise funds while fostering camaraderie as we fight to end breast cancer.

Start with warm leads! If you go to a gym or workout class/studio, see if they would be willing to donate space/time for the venue, dependent on what kind of tournament you want to have or if you want to do a charity fitness class. Ask local clubs/organizations such as golf courses or intramural sports leagues for help to establish rules and build the tournament. This could also be a good sponsorship or in-kind donation opportunity. Be sure to advertise on social media and local online community boards, like Next Door. Also hanging flyers in local businesses or contacting local news stations to get the word out.

Suggested entry fee = $25.

Spring Cleaning Yard Sale

Turn clutter into contributions by hosting a spring cleaning yard sale! As you sift through all the things you’ve collected in the past few months, put aside anything that may be usable for someone else and host a yard sale to turn your trash into someone else’s treasure. Post on social media, hang signs around your community, and lay out all your pre-loved goods for everyone to shop through. Display information about the 3-Day® and how the proceeds will make an impact. Print signs with your QR code so people can make an additional donation if they’d like and don’t be afraid to price items higher than you normally would since it’s going to the cause!

Suggested pricing = nothing lower than $5!

Plant Flowers for a Cause

Embrace the spirit of renewal by organizing a community flower planting event. Partner with local nurseries or garden centers to source flowers and supplies, then invite participants to plant blooms in exchange for donations. It’s a beautiful way to honor loved ones affected by breast cancer while beautifying your neighborhood.

Suggested donation amount = start at $25 and go up in $10 increments based on the creation!

Mow Lawns for the Cures

Channel your inner landscaper and offer lawn mowing services for donations. Spread the word in your community and schedule mowing sessions throughout the season. Whether it’s a one-time mow or a recurring service, every grass blade trimmed brings us one step closer to a world without breast cancer.

Suggested amount = $20.

Craft Bird Feeders from Toilet Paper Rolls

Looking for an activity to do with the kids? Get crafty for a cause by transforming ordinary toilet paper rolls into charming bird feeders. Host a DIY workshop or sell pre-made feeders, complete with birdseed, at local events such as farmer’s markets. Not only will this raise funds, but it also promotes environmental awareness and provides our feathered friends with a tasty treat.

Suggested workshop fee = $20.

Organize a Neighborhood Walk

Give your loved ones a peek into the Pink Bubble with an organized neighborhood walk to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. Choose a scenic route, set a fundraising goal, and invite friends, family, and neighbors to join in solidarity. Consider incorporating pink attire or accessories to make a bold statement of support. Maybe you can even have a contest for best dressed!

Suggested donation amount = $15.

Go Door-to-Door with a Purpose

Turn a training walk into a double positive! Knocking on doors may seem old-fashioned, but it’s still an effective way to engage with your community and garner donations. Arm yourself with informational flyers, donation envelopes, and plenty of enthusiasm to share your story and spread the word about the 3-Day.

Suggested donation amount = $25.

Remember, every dollar raised brings us closer to our goal of ending breast cancer forever. With your passion, creativity and dedication, together we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by this disease. Let’s spring into action and fundraise with purpose! Do you have any unique springtime fundraising ideas? Share them to inspire the rest of the Pink Bubble.

What it’s Like to Walk 1 or 2 Days at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®

Family obligations, coordinating days off from work, fundraising concerns, physical limitations… life comes with obstacles that may pose a challenge for some to walk 60 miles over three days. Fret not, because for the very first time at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® you have the option to walk one, two, or three days in each city! Regardless of your schedule or abilities, you can now become fully immersed in the Pink Bubble in a way that works best for you. You’ve heard stories from our Komen 3-Day Walkers, so we’ve teamed up with Elissa R. and Jenn H., 1-Day and 2-Day Walkers from the 2023 Denver 3-Day, to share what it’s like to be part of the 3-Day® for 20 or 40 miles. If you haven’t registered yet or are considering adding another city to your 2024 3-Day itinerary, these women are here to help you decide which option is best for you.

1-Day Walker: Elissa R.

Breast cancer survivor Elissa R. first participated in the 3-Day in 2018 alongside her sisters in San Diego and has walked five times since, celebrating her 20-year survivorship at the 2023 Denver 3-Day. Elissa walked all three days in 2018 then switched to walking one day in 2019 due to her walking partner’s physical limitations. Every year, they arrive early to cheer the walkers on the first or second day and do some exploring before embarking on their 20-mile journey. Though she’s not walking all three days, she still feels the power of the Pink Bubble whenever she joins the 3-Day. She describes it as a sisterhood of people who want to end breast cancer, where everyone knows someone who’s been impacted or has fought it themselves. The most powerful moment she remembers was the 2021 Closing Ceremony where she walked hand-in-hand with other survivors surrounded by a sea of supporters.

She is looking forward to walking in the New England 3-Day this year as a 2-Day Walker, an option that allows her a bit more flexibility and time within the Pink Bubble. In the meantime, she walks each day sporting her 3-Day attire which often sparks conversation amongst strangers to share their breast cancer experience, learn about the 3-Day, or inquire about donating.

2-Day Walker: Jenn H.

Jenn is a three-time 3-Day Walker who began her journey at the 2018 Philadelphia 3-Day alongside her sister. Having dense breast tissue and a family history of cancer, she walks the 3-Day while she is a healthy individual to make an impact and hopefully create a day where cancer isn’t such a debilitating diagnosis. In 2023, she chose to walk two days in Denver because it was just a short drive from her hometown in Nebraska and was unsure if she would be able to meet the fundraising requirements. Still eager to push herself, Jenn and her sister both decided to shoot for the middle of the road as 2-Day Walkers. Not only did they feel that it was the most flexible option, but it still granted them the opportunity to meet new people, hear their stories, have fun with the crew, and make an impact.

In 2024, Jenn, her sister, niece, and friend all are embarking on the Denver 3-Day as 3-Day Walkers to continue making an even greater impact. They walk to help offset any of the costs for the people who are already struggling to stay healthy and pay their regular bills while undergoing treatment. “People shouldn’t have to choose between paying their bills and getting the treatment and support they need to get better,” she shared. To anybody considering the 3-Day, Jenn provides wise words of encouragement. “It will be the best, hardest thing you’ll do. It’s hard fundraising, hard training, hard getting used to the idea of 60 miles in three days, but it’s the best time and the most fun, hard thing I have done. AND… it’s not harder than cancer.”

Will you be walking one, two, or three days at the 2024 3-Day?

What is the Pink Bubble?

When you step into the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® you’re immersed in the Pink Bubble, a place where everyone is in this together. For those familiar, simply hearing this term may bring about a plethora of warm feelings; but what is it really? The Pink Bubble is not tangible but is what we call the Komen 3-Day community and the environment at the event. It’s a place where everyone is generous, selfless, and willing to give the shirt off their back to anyone who needs it. It’s a place where strangers become best friends in a matter of minutes and where you can fall to your knees crying, assured that you will be met where you are. The Pink Bubble is something that you can’t quite understand until you’ve experienced it for yourself, but once you do, you will never look back.

We asked 3-Day® walkers to explain the Pink Bubble to someone who has never experienced it. Here’s what they said:

“The Pink Bubble is unique. It is a place where everyone is welcome, [and] friends are all around you. You are supported in every step you take or in the steps you cannot take. There is no judgement, only love and support. I have met so many people and made so many friends. [The 3-Day] is a weekend that fills my heart in ways I have never experienced before. It is very emotional yet makes me more determined every year to end breast cancer.” —Laura P.

“It’s an aura of positivity from an unfortunate [disease] that brought us together. The [Pink Bubble] gives me space to reflect on the journey I’ve been on and the road ahead.” —Sherrylyn R.

“It’s like a sisterhood of people who want to end breast cancer. [It] seems like everyone knows someone or has fought [breast cancer] themselves and this is a bond among us. I know what it’s like when you’re undergoing or only a few years out of treatment and you come across someone who has made it through to the other side. Now I can be that person to others.” —Elissa R.

“The Pink Bubble is a combination of your best summer camp experience mixed with your best volunteer/charitable experience combined [with] lots of emotions.” —Robert C.

“The feelings and emotions that hit you every time you enter the Pink Bubble can be a little overwhelming, especially your first time. Those feelings and emotions and the stories you hear are also incredibly inspiring. You meet people who are walking with cancer, walking for those dear family members and friends who can’t, or are walking with the angels they have gained along the way. There is laughter, hugs, tears and reflection and all that inspires me every time to want to continue to do this again and again.” —Jenn H.

“The Pink Bubble is hard to describe. You walk into the ballroom and just see the sea of people all there [walking and crewing] to support survivors, thrivers, and [in honor of] family and friends that could not. Everyone has a smile and supportive word, and it is so infectious.” —Debra E.

“Inspiring. It is such a positive (often funny!) community of people that come together and accept you as you are. I was sad to enter back into the real world after the [3-Day] was over, but I try to carry a little bit of the Pink Bubble with me wherever I go now.” —Jennie S.

“Ah the Pink Bubble, it’s a unique, special group you get to join and forever be a part of once you start your 3-Day journey. It’s filled with love, hope, tears of joy and tears of sadness but it surrounds you with love. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll have an experience you never imagined having. You will meet new friends and grow closer to those you already know.” —Marla R.

How would you describe the Pink Bubble?