2022 Chicago 3-Day Top Fundraisers

With 1,200 walkers and 250 crew members, $3.7 million was raised for the 2022 Susan G. Komen Chicago 3-Day. Our top fundraisers were recognized Saturday morning of the event at our Bank of America Breakfast of Champions. Bank of America celebrates our fundraising champions with a collective $25,000 donation to jump start participants on their 2023 fundraising! Join us in congratulating these top fundraisers for their incredible achievements.

Our top individual fundraiser this year is Christine P.! Christine raised nearly $55,000 this year and has raised $157,000 total in the three years she’s been participating in the 3-Day. Christine received a $300 donation from Bank of America towards her fundraising for next year’s 3-Day.

Christine shared a fun fact with us, she has rescued two baby raccoons, an opossum, a bird and a turtle! Thank you, Christine, for your incredible fundraising and your kind heart.

Our top crew fundraiser is Mary Z. Mary raised $4,300 this year and has raised $5,789 total in her 18 years participating in the 3-Day. Mary received a $300 donation from Bank of America towards her fundraising efforts for 2023.

Mary loves quilting and has handmade over 100 quilts for her friends and family over the last 25 years. What an amazing accomplishment, Mary!

Our rookie of the year award goes to Heidi F.! Heidi raised over $40,000 for her very first 3-Day! She received a $250 donation from Bank of America towards her fundraising for a 2023 3-Day event.

Heidi is an ordained reverend and officiated the wedding of one of the 3-Day walkers on her team.

Our small but mighty team award is captained by our rookie of the year, Heidi (yes, the same Heidi you read about as the Rookie of the Year!) Team “Heels Off” raised over $52,000 together! The team received a $250 donation from Bank of America towards their 2023 fundraising efforts.

The members of the Heels Off team each have a personal connection to at least one fellow teammate, but the Chicago 3-Day was the first time they had all been in the same place, at the same time!

Last, but surely not least, is our top fundraising team BC Babes! BC Babes is captained by Beth N. and together raised more than $69,000 this year. In total, the 25 team members have raised nearly $1.6 million in the 17 years they have been a team. The commitment BC Babes has to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day is undeniable!

The BC Babes are spread out across the US, together their 25 team members live in 13 different states.

Thank you to all of our top fundraisers, and to all of our 2022 Chicago 3-Day participants who together raised $3.7 million in the fight against breast cancer. Stay tuned this fall for our other top fundraiser blogs from the Dallas/Fort Worth and San Diego 3-Days!

Congratulations to the 2022 Chicago 3-Day Crew Impact Award Winner

Over the last 18 years, Kit L. has participated in 40 3-Day events! With over $78,000 raised towards the fight against breast cancer, we honor Kit as the 2022 Chicago 3-Day Crew Impact Award winner. Fun fact about Kit, she has traveled to 100 countries and has visited all seven continents!

We asked one of her friends and fellow 3-Day participants to provide a brief testimonial to her greatness!

“Kit puts the ‘fun’ in fundraising. She is a fun-loving world traveler who has a wicked sense of humor. I first met Kit in 2010 during a freak, driving rainstorm in San Diego. Kit was in charge of the pink info tent and it became ground zero for operation ‘Dry Housing.’ Her ability to calm, nurture and relocate walkers to local accommodations was seamless. She was an unstoppable force in calling hotels and cab companies. Without her efforts supporting the staff and the rest of the crew, that walk would have turned out much differently. She taught this newbie Sr. Crew Captain that no task is impossible. The only way to eat an elephant is to eat one bite at a time.

In addition to her yearly gig as the San Diego Sr. Volunteer Captain, she has worked as a Sr. Route Captain, Sweep Captain and Pit Captain in multiple cities. She volunteers in honor of her close friend, Linda, who lost her battle to breast cancer. She has committed to continuing this fight until there is a cure. Kit embodies the spirit of William Butler Yeats; ‘There are no strangers here, just friends we haven’t met.’ Or in her case, BREAST FRIENDS. I am proud of all of Kit’s contributions, both in time and money to our 3-Day community. But I am prouder to call her my friend.” ― Rainy R.

“I have only known Kit for two months but in that short time she has stepped up to be a great support and friend to me. She has helped introduce me to the crew, the key players and the procedures that work. She checks in on me and makes me feel supported and loved. I have truly enjoyed our short time working together and I look forward to a lot more events with her!” ― Crew and Volunteer Coordinator, Kristin B.

We’re so thankful for all our wonderful Crew! Without the Crew’s hard work, the 3-Day would not be possible. Stay tuned throughout the rest of the 2022 Susan G. Komen 3-Day series to see who else wins the Crew Impact Award!

Congratulations to the 2022 Chicago 3-Day Milestone Award Winner!

We’d like to congratulate Rachel B. on being our 2022 Chicago 3-Day Milestone Award Winner! Rachel has participated in 28 3-Days over the last 17 years and has raised over $241,000 to date.

We asked Rachel how she got involved in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day, and how she and her team continue to be outstanding fundraisers.

“My Mom had just finished her radiation treatment after her breast cancer diagnosis when I saw an advertisement for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. I knew that I needed to take action against the disease so my younger sister and a friend joined me for the 2005 Arizona 3-Day. We saw all of the fun names of the teams that were formed and decided on Bouncin’ Buckeyes. Buckeyes refers to our Ohio roots and Bouncin’ is a reference to the boobs. Our first year my sister raised her money within two weeks. She showed me what is possible when you ask for a certain amount of money and also inform the donor of your deadline.

It’s important to remember why you are walking and to share this in your donation requests. I can’t imagine not having all of the memories with my Mom since she was diagnosed in 2004. I try not to take it for granted as I know many that do not get the extra time. I’m grateful for the advances in research and treatment that Susan G. Komen has provided and I know the money that I raise is making a difference.

My Mom’s breast cancer was found from a mobile mammogram bus visiting her place of employment. They compared her mammogram to the previous year and saw a difference and sent her for a lumpectomy. Early detection and annual mammograms saved her life. Our team is a super-fundraising team so we have always had a goal to raise more than the minimum. Our supporters are generous and support us with donations to achieve our goals year over year. I also send emails throughout the year so that I am sharing our progress. After the walk, I send all of my donors a thank you card made with some 3-Day pictures and include a donation form for the next year’s 3-Day.”

We also asked some of her friends to provide a brief testimonial to her greatness!

“Rachel is the reason I joined the 3-Day. Her passion is contagious. She works countless hours to raise funds for herself and others. Her selfless acts and drive to raise awareness are inspiring.” — Heather G.

“Rachel is an amazing person and a great team captain. She keeps us all focused and without her we’d be lost.” — Billy G.

“Rachel is the most committed individual I’ve ever known. Her passion for the 3-Day and the fight against breast cancer personifies the statement, ‘We will never quit!!!’ That is why she leads our team.” — Bobbi D.

Rachel shared with us, she is a Rodan + Fields skincare consultant and was given the opportunity to join her team on a mission trip to Ethiopia with Ordinary Hero. Rachel visited multiple orphanages and learned how critical food is to our lives. She now sponsors two families in Ethiopia, providing monthly food and allowing their children to go to school. Rachel has been back to Ethiopia once already and hopes to go again in 2023.

Stay tuned throughout the rest of the 2022 Susan G. Komen 3-Day Series for our other Milestone Award Winners!