At this past weekend’sSusan G. Komen Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day® we were thrilled to present Nathan B. with the Crew Impact Award, recognizing his more than two decades of dedicated service to the Pink Bubble community.
Nathan’s journey with the 3-Day began in 2001, inspired by his family’s long history with cancer. Since then, he has crewed in honor of his aunt Amy, a 20-year breast cancer survivor; his grandmother Joan, who survived breast cancer twice before losing her life to leukemia in 2014; his cousin Will, who passed away in 2024; and his uncle who currently has cancer.
During the Celebration of Champions ceremony, Carolyn H. honored Nathan on stage, sharing his dedication to the 3-Day.
“Every long shift, every early morning, every late night has been in their honor. And for everyone touched by this disease,” she said.
Over the past 25 years, Nathan has been a cornerstone for the 3-Day Crew. His teammates describe him as someone who always shows up, lends a hand and helps make every event run smoother, year after year. This season, Nathan told his team that it might be his final 3-Day. He is thinking about retiring from the Crew saying, “It’s time to leave while I’m still having fun.”
While Nathan will be missed, Carolyn said he has left a lasting impression on the 3-Day, and on “everyone lucky enough to serve beside him.”
Congratulations, Nathan, on this well-deserved honor!
You are truly an extraordinary example of service and kindness, and we are so grateful for your 25 years of dedication to the Crew.
Mary marked an incredible milestone at the Denver 3-Day in August—her 30th 3-Day! Throughout that time, Mary’s dedication hasn’t wavered for one minute and she has worn many hats: beloved sweep captain across multiple cities, pit captain, senior route captain in New England, walker and member of the Crew Advisory Board. But what makes Mary so impactful isn’t just the roles that she fills, it’s how she fills them.
Her sister, Janet, spoke at the 3-Day’s Celebration of Champions and described Mary’s deep dedication.
“What many people don’t see is what happens before the event even begins. Mary pours her heart into this work; attending pre-event meetings, mapping out logistics, organizing her team and making sure every detail is just right,” Janet said.
Mary’s up before the sun and doesn’t rest until well after dark on event day. Janet said her sister is fiercely protective of her 3-Day team and the walkers and will do whatever it takes to get the job done, even bursting into song.
“If you’ve ever been lucky enough to ride in one of her sweep vans, you’ve probably heard her singing silly songs that turn fatigue into laughter,” Janet said. “Some of my favorite memories are writing those songs with her and hearing walkers burst into joy as we roll by.”
Mary leads with heart, serves with humility and lifts everyone up around her year after year. The Crew Impact Award reflects the impact Mary has made in the 3-Day community and is a celebration of the joy she brings to the Pink Bubble.
Congratulations, Mary! You are so deeply appreciated.
Meet Lynn C., our 2024 San Diego 3-Day Crew Impact Award Winner!
Since her first Susan G. Komen 3-Day® 17 years ago, Barbara has participated 28 times and has raised a lifetime total of over $70,000. For years she has served as Sweep and Shuttle Captain in Washington D.C., New England, Philadelphia, and San Diego, bringing her humor, pink hair and Boston accent wherever she goes!
“I first met Lynn 10 years ago when I was co-captain for the Philadelphia sweep team in 2014. She had that spunky attitude and was our go-to van during that event and ever since. I remember riding in a SAG [support and gear] bus with her and within five minutes she had both Mary and me laughing so hard we could hardly speak. She was a staple member of that Philly Sweep Team until they moved the event to New England. She even once tried her hand at being the captain, which of course she rocked, but her heart was to be with the walkers. Lynn has been doing two events a year since I’ve known her, one close to her home base, and the other she flies all the way across the country to go to, in San Diego. She certainly is one of the most valued members of the Sweep Team in both cities. She gives 100% to the team, shows up early to do special ops, stays out late to assist the last of the walkers into camp, drives through pouring rain, and gets lost in Sea World once in a while. To say she gives tired walkers a ride to the next pit stop is an understatement. What she really does is give them encouragement, a joke or two, an ear to hear their story and a lot of Pink Bubble love.” —Carolyn H.
What was your inspiration to do your first Komen 3-Day???
In 2006, my?sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer. I wanted to do something big to help her and I saw the commercial for the New England 3-Day®. I signed up to do the 2007 event by myself even though my friends and family thought I was crazy. I believed in my heart it was a one and done event, but the love, support, stories and commitment to finding the cures was contagious. I wanted to make more friends, learn more about how I could help, and knew before the walk started on that early Friday morning, I was in it for life. I had been engulfed by the Pink Bubble and I didn’t want to leave.
What has brought you back to the 3-Day year after year?
I would meet more and more people going through treatment each year. I would look forward to seeing these friends year after year and sometimes those friends did not make it back for any more walks because of this disease. This would energize me to raise more money to find the cures. The longer I am involved, the more people I know have been diagnosed with breast cancer. This disease has infiltrated my family three times in the past few years. Sadly, it is my daughter’s generation on both sides of our family that have been affected. We lost one young, beautiful cousin who left a young family, and we now have two others who are fighting and thriving and beating this disease. How can I stop now? We are so close to the cures. I believe in my heart I will see the cures in my lifetime.
What is your favorite aspect of crewing the 3-Day?
I love supporting the walkers. Crewing is hard, days are long, sleep is fleeting, but knowing the walkers depend upon us to keep them fed, healthy and safe keeps me energized. Crew has one single goal each day; keep the walkers safe, keep them in a forward moving motion daily and get them safely to closing.
What is your best advice to anyone crewing the 3-Day?
It is hard, it is fun, and they could not walk without our help. We are the fuel that keeps the walk moving each day. We are like the elves behind the scenes making it all look easy.
What’s a fun fact about you?
For the next three years, my favorite sports team is the University of Vermont Women’s Hockey —#ILOVEMYHOCKEYPLAYER. I have had people request a translator when they hear me talking but I only speak one language, it’s called “The Boston Accent.” Yes, I have pahked my cah in Hahvahd Yahd to watch TB12 play football with Best Buddies!
What are the most important lessons you’ve learned on the 3-Day?
To be grateful for all my blessings and to give back and pay it forward.
