Meet Carolyn H., our 2024 Denver Crew Impact Award Winner!
Since her first Susan G. Komen 3-Day® 14 years ago, Carolyn has participated 27 times and has raised a lifetime total of over $20,000. Not only is she one of the most selfless individuals you may ever meet, but she does it all as a thriver with the hope of creating a future without breast cancer.
“Within the Pink Bubble there lies a special glue which makes us shine a little brighter, lifts us up a bit higher, and brings grace to everything surrounding us; this glue is Carolyn. She is the best of the Komen 3-Day, and her compassion and kindness are legendary. She is there for all of us, all the time, and manages her teams with a savvy style and a unique, joy-filled spirit. Carolyn is a true asset to everyone here, especially me, and the world truly is a better place with her in it. We are a better event with her as a part of it, and I can’t imagine my world or the Pink Bubble without her.” —Kit L.
What was your inspiration to participate in your first 3-Day®???
I was asked by my friend Mary M. to co-captain a sweep team for the Denver event in 2010. I had no idea what the 3-Day was, let alone a sweep team, but I was game to learn and looking forward to spending time with Mary. That was it; I have been hooked on the Pink Bubble ever since. The people, the atmosphere, the stories of survival as well as the tributes for those who didn’t survive.
Although I am a thriver of breast cancer, I do not do this for me or that recognition; I do it so others, including my children and yours, won’t have to walk down that same breast cancer path. I have seen in the past 25 years great strides in the diagnosis, treatment and survival rate for breast cancer and how it trickles down to other cancers as well.
What has brought you back to the 3-Day year after year?
The people and the positive culture of the 3-Day; that Pink Bubble, as they say! I have the most incredible friendships with so many people I have met along the way including walkers, crew and staff. These people are my family, (especially my “Sistas” Mary & Janet) and if they need me for anything, I’m there at their beck and call and vice versa. I call the 3-Day the great equalizer; EVERYONE at the event is there to support, cheer, hug, and give love to everyone else. There is no distinction between our many differences. It’s how we want the world to be.
What is your favorite aspect of crewing the 3-Day?
I love helping walkers and my crew team to have the best experience of their life by giving them encouragement, understanding, and a lot of fun. Knowing I brought a smile or a sense of belonging to someone’s day is the best reward and I’m perfectly happy being behind the scenes.
What is your best advice to anyone crewing the 3-Day?
Be you, let go, and remember you are in a safe place. Have fun, be silly, cry, cheer, hug, and make a new friend each day; I can guarantee they will be lifelong friendships. Again, everyone is there for you, and you are there for them. Also, keep a Sharpie in your pocket, wear closed-toed shoes and a wide mouth water bottle is your friend as well.
What’s a fun fact about you?
Anyone on my crew team knows that singing is not my hidden talent, but that doesn’t stop me. I also grew up on a farm/ranch in Nebraska, ergo I learned how to double clutch tractors, combines and grain trucks. Although I now live in Denver, my husband and I have ownership in a herd of bison in Nebraska.
What are the most important lessons you’ve learned on the 3-Day?
I’ve learned a lot about leadership and teamwork including how to be flexible and handle unforeseen circumstances. I’ve learned that each person has their own individual journey they must travel, and I must be understanding, compassionate and accepting of that journey.
“At this moment, you are probably trying to slide into the background. But let the light shine on you for a few minutes just as your light has shined brightly for the 3-Day for many years.” —John H.
Congratulations, Carolyn! We are honored to have you as part of our Pink Bubble family.
The Pink Bubble returned to Denver, including a day in Boulder, on September 27-29! Courageous participants walked amongst the mountains in the Mile High City to complete 60, 40 or 20 miles over the course of three days. Together, 700 walkers and 220 crew raised a total of $2.3 million for breast cancer research, community health, patient care and advocacy.
Day 1
The Susan G. Komen Denver 3-Day began with a beautiful Opening Ceremony, an opportunity for walkers and crew to gather for the first time before setting out on the route. The spirit of the Pink Bubble radiated as the room filled with excited participants ready to embark on Day 1 of the Susan G. Komen Denver 3-Day. Our incredible speakers, Mona D. and Jana L., shared their reasons for walking; Mona for her sisters and Jana as a 27-year survivor. Following their heartfelt stories, the room filled with emotion as we welcomed Tari P. to raise the Promise Flag in honor of those who we’ve lost to breast cancer. She spoke about her mother who died on Super Bowl Sunday, stating “I didn’t watch that game because I was watching her take her final breaths, but she was the real winner that day, gaining her wings and reuniting with her sister and mother who previously lost their battles with breast cancer.”
Before raising the flag, Tari continued, “Cancer treatments continue to advance, and my mother benefited greatly from those medical breakthroughs. I know that the money I’ve raised over my 21 years with the Komen 3-Day helped fund these advances, giving my mother the precious time to see her grandchildren graduate from college, get married, and have children…. My mom chose joy until her very last day, and I promise to do the same.” With the flag flying high, we took a moment of silence to honor those who have lost their lives to breast cancer and then proudly said their names aloud as walkers embarked on their journey.
With the sun shining, walkers were led by survivors and thrivers for a spirited Day 1! They soon found themselves at the iconic Coors Field, followed by a slumber party themed pit stop 1, equipped with a pink tent, crew members in pajamas, and a pillow fight to top it all off! Hydrated and fueled up, walkers then passed by the Denver Zoo with supporters cheering them on as they walked toward the Lowry District, where a western themed lunch awaited. As they made their way in, walkers were greeted by the Lunch Sheriff who directed them toward a delicious spread of turkey sandwiches, garden salad, and sides. Fueled and rested, they continued the second half of their day, where they passed by the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion and the Pioneer Monument Fountain before heading toward camp.
Greeted by soft pretzels and massage chairs, walkers rested their feet as we awaited the last walker, who happened to be one of the morning’s speakers, Jana. The Celebration of Champions soon commenced where Bank of America rewarded our top fundraisers with donations up to $500 for their 2025 3-Day ® fundraising. Keep an eye out for our blog post about the top fundraisers coming soon! Our coaches then honored the Milestone Award Winner and Crew Impact Award Winner. Our National Presenting Sponsor then hosted a raffle where five Denver 3-Day participants were awarded a swag bag along with a $250 toward their 2025 fundraising efforts. To wrap up an exciting evening, the men of Mohawk, Alec and Logan, hopped on stage to share an awesome 3-Day rap for the second year in a row! Walkers headed to bed with a fresh tune in their head as they rested their feet for the next day.
Day 2
This sunny day began with 2-Day Walkers checking in and everyone hopping aboard a 3-Day bus to Boulder for a scenic route through the Rocky Mountains. The first to board was the Denver Ultimate Event Experience winner Mary Ann I., who raised over $6,200 during the eligible period for her 16th 3-Day. The buses rolled into the beautiful East Boulder Park where walkers were greeted by porta potties and a hydration station to ensure they started their day on the right foot.
With mountains in every direction, no matter where the route took them, walkers were in for a stunning view. As they continued, they were met with the Memorial Mile next to a community garden, serving as a beautiful juxtaposition as we honored those who have lost their lives while celebrating the growing life in the surrounding fields. After reflection on the impact of community, they were soon welcomed to a delicious lunch at the halfway point of their 60-mile journey! From here they continued through the hilly streets of Boulder with stops at a pirate themed pit stop 3 and a gold medal worthy pit stop 4 adorned with Olympics regalia. Just three miles later, buses awaited our courageous participants with comfortable seating for a ride back to Denver.
As walkers paraded into camp, they were greeted with delicious Tex-Mex cuisine, Bank of America Massage Chairs, and some much-anticipated air conditioning before the Honor Ceremony commenced. The Youth Corps kicked things off by sharing who inspires them to participate in the 3-Day and were followed by speakers Dennis, a male breast cancer survivor, and Shiela, who commits for her late sister Sandy. Dennis began his speech by asking the room to raise their hand if they had ever met a male breast cancer survivor which resulted in only a few hands raised. As the room fell silent, he shared that he has only ever met five other male survivors, including his brother, and spoke to the importance of male breast cancer advocacy. From Dennis’ experience and that of his brother, even some of the most well-renowned doctors in large metropolitan cities are not equipped with the resources to fully detect male breast cancer in its early stages. He shed tears while speaking to the importance of early detection and self-advocacy in the doctor’s office for men and women alike. Shiela took to the stage and spoke about her beautiful sister Sandy who she and her team walk in honor of. “At the beginning of this year, our lives changed forever, and our 3-Day walks took on a whole new meaning. On January 2nd, the best sister, mom, aunt, wife, grandma, sister-in-law, cousin, co-worker, and friend left this earthly world. Now, she’s our special pink butterfly angel in Heaven,” Shiela shared. As she stepped off the stage, the 3-Day community lit their candles in tribute to the friends and family who continually inspire their participation. After sharing many hugs and tears, walkers and crew called it a night and rested up for their final day of the Denver 3-Day.
Day 3
Sunday began by welcoming our 1-Day Walkers into the Pink Bubble before all walkers made their way out on the route, ready for the final day in the Mile High City! I connected with Dawn and Chris, who were spending their day honoring their sister and wife, Rae, a long-time walker who lost her battle with breast cancer on this day seven years ago. To represent their final day with her on September 29, 2017, team Keeping Abreast repped jerseys with the number 29 on the back to honor Rae. At her very last 3-Day in 2017, they recorded a video of Rae singing the song she was known for, “good morning, good morning,” and, as her loved ones set out on the route on the anniversary of her passing, they were met with a route safety crew member singing the beloved tune. As chills fell down their spines, they felt more connected to Rae than they could have imagined and walked the rest of the way with a reminder of why we walk.
Walkers enjoyed sunshine and scenic views all day long as they passed through RiNo Arts District, over South Platte River, and ventured into Edgewater. With the Colorado sun radiating strongly, walkers were offered hydration and food at pit stops, grab & gos and the lunch stop, where they had the chance to take a cute photo in front of the flower wall. After resting their feet, walkers continued their journey as our friends from XPO cheered them on and offered snacks, candy, water, and sports drinks to give the extra push through their final miles. For those needing a little boost from one spot to another, fun sweep vans like the Gnome Mobile came to the rescue! Whether on foot or in a sweep van, walkers passed by Sloans Lake Park and Empower Field at Mile High Stadium before parading into the Finish Line Festival at the Tivoli Quad.
As they proudly stepped across the Mohawk Pink Carpet, walkers were celebrated by friends, family, crew, and Susan G. Komen® for their tremendous accomplishment. As we anticipated the last walker, participants were able to take photos, get some swag, and enter an awesome raffle at the Nature’s Bounty tent before retrieving their victory shirt and Bank of America medal. We welcomed the last walker home before our spectacular Crew lined the way toward the stage as our courageous survivors and thrivers walked in, grounding us in why we walk. We gave a loving goodbye to our 3-Day Host Cati Diamond Stone, who will be entering a new chapter of her life, passing the torch over to Beverly Kruse who will be joining us at the Dallas/Fort Worth and San Diego 3-Day events. It was then revealed that the 700 walkers and 220 crew members of the 2024 Susan G. Komen Denver 3-Day raised a collective $2.3 million in the fight against breast cancer. The funds raised will be used to invest in cutting-edge research that will lead to new, more effective treatments, working in communities across the country to ensure all people can access the care they need, and mobilizing passionate supporters to make certain the voice of the breast cancer community is heard by policymakers.
It was a wonderful return to Denver, and we can’t wait to do it all over again in 2025!
In 2005, Vivian O.’s beloved Mom lost her fight with breast cancer. In her grief, Vivian discovered the power of the Suan G. Komen 3-Day®. Her journey with the Komen 3-Day started in Tampa Bay and has continued for more than 30 events since 2006. In the last 18 years, she has traveled to various cities, walked many ‘Komen miles,’ worked on different crews, met hundreds of people, camped out, used port-a-potties, and found a safe place amidst all the pink to heal and grow.
Vivian and her mother, Adela, 1997
“Twenty months. That was all the time my mom had after her diagnosis before the cancer took her. I was left with emotions and feelings I didn’t know what to do with. When I saw an advertisement for the Tampa Bay 3-Day, I decided to join as a crew member. That one decision helped in a way I will forever be grateful for because it gave me a purpose, a way to honor my mother, and a way to help in the fight against breast cancer. So, what does the 3-Day® mean to me? It means community, it means belonging, it means commitment. It means cheering the last walker into camp, 3-Day macaroni and cheese, route arrows, and seas of pink. However, the most important thing the 3-Day gives me is an outlet to process my grief with people that understand my loss in a way others do not. Cancer takes a toll on families and grieving the loss of someone important is hard and lonely, but the 3-Day taught me it doesn’t have to be done alone and there are moments when all you can do is walk. So, if you find yourself in a similar situation, my advice is to find yourself a 3-Day and start walking!
“Over the years, I have been both a walker and a crew member and have enjoyed both experiences immensely. As a crew member, I have been on different road crews, including route safety (motorcycle), route hydration, sweep and for the last several years, I have focused on route marking, which is the crew that lays down the route the walkers will take each day. There is so much I enjoy about it—the camaraderie, talking with and learning about each person, and hearing everyone’s stories as to why they crew. I enjoy being part of the walk’s backbone because all the crew teams together make up the foundation of any 3-Day. I love knowing that I’m one person amongst many that provide services and support to assist the walkers in being able to do their part in walking, fundraising, and helping Komen be a leader in cancer research and medical advancements. I enjoy the physical nature of crewing, the hard work, and having a singular goal for the duration of the 3-Day. I enjoy the energy that is put out by the Pink Bubble, with the traditions and structures that are so familiar and dear to me after so many years and events. And with each mile I walk, each dollar I fundraise, and each time I crew, I’m doing something, no matter how small, to help in the fight against breast cancer and bringing critical services to people that need it. In doing so, I honor my mom and that is what I’m most proud of.
“My mom was from Spain, and so I will leave you with a saying she used to tell my sisters and I all the time, and considering what the 3-Day does, I felt it was appropriate. ‘Pisa con el pie derecho’ which translates to ‘step with your right (best) foot forward.’
“There is strength in walking with a group of people in the same direction for the same cause, because EVERYONE deserves a lifetime. So, whether you’re a walker or a crew member or support someone, remember to always step with your best foot forward, one ‘Komen mile’ at a time.”
