A Mother’s Journey from Breast Cancer to the 3-Day

Cecilia S. at the 3-Day with her family.

It’s been nearly five years since Cecilia S. was diagnosed with breast cancer at 34 while raising two young children. It became a journey that led her to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®.

Now, she is approaching a milestone she has looked forward to since her diagnosis, one that has been defined by strength and hope.

“When they say, ‘you’re a survivor,’ it’s interesting because we have no other choice,” Cecilia said. “But what’s amazing is the connection you form with other women, because without that, breast cancer can feel very isolating.”

The Diagnosis

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cecilia encouraged her sister to get a mammogram after turning 40, despite many delaying preventative care. That same night, Cecilia performed a self-exam.

“I had recently finished breastfeeding, so my breasts were like pancakes. I felt a tiny pebble close to my armpit,” Cecilia said. “So, I went to see my doctor.”

At first, Cecilia thought it might be a clogged milk duct. But after a series of ultrasounds, a mammogram and a biopsy, she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Genetic testing revealed she had the BRCA1 inherited gene mutation, which led to a pivot in her treatment plan, including a double mastectomy and 16 rounds of chemotherapy in 2022. She underwent reconstruction surgery on her 35th birthday.

Joining the Pink Bubble

Team Steps at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.

Just a few months after her reconstruction surgery, Cecilia learned one of her colleagues — a 30-year breast cancer survivor — was training for the 3-Day with other co-workers.

“They invited me to train with them and told me they were walking in my name. I went and I was shocked at how easy it was to be around women who understood what I had been though,” Cecilia said. “That’s when I knew I wanted to do the 3-Day, too.”

Although Cecilia had lived in Texas since 2017, she and her husband signed up for the 2022 San Diego 3-Day just months after she completed treatment.

“I’m originally from California. I went to college at UC San Diego and all my family is in California. The 3-Day felt like a great way to bookend my journey,” Cecilia explained. “All of my family and friends who couldn’t be physically with me in Texas had the opportunity to be there to support me.”

Cecilia walked at her own pace during her first 3-Day, and with the encouragement of her husband, her teammates and support of the medical crew for her neuropathy pain, she walked every Komen mile as a first time walker. Despite the challenges, she said she was immediately “hooked” on the Pink Bubble. Since then, Cecilia has walked the 3-Day in Denver, San Diego and Dallas/Fort Worth, and this fall she will complete her sixth 3-Day.

Cecilia and her friends at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.

The support and strength Cecilia found through the 3-Day inspired her to help other women facing breast cancer feel less alone.

“When I hear about other women diagnosed with breast cancer, I try to support them — even if it’s just a text reminding them, they aren’t alone,” Cecilia said. “I try to encourage friends and fellow breasties to join my 3-Day Team Steps because simply being there can restore hope. Standing alongside 30-and 40-year survivors is a powerful reminder that this journey doesn’t end with a diagnosis — it continues with strength, community and spreading awareness.”

Cecilia and Mary at the Susan G. Komen 3-day.

To learn more about the 3-Day visit the3day.org.

Tina’s Story: A 3-Day Haiku of Hope and Heartbreak

Tina S. at the 2025 Susan G. Komen 3-Day in Dallas/Fort Worth.

When Tina S. submitted her winning haiku for this month’s 3-Day contest, she wanted to capture the emotion, purpose and perspective that is deeply personal.

“My mother is a 16-year survivor. She had two different types of breast cancer, one in each breast, at the same time,” Tina said. “It was really tough to watch. She was in so much pain, and I felt like I didn’t do enough.”

Finding the 3-Day

Three years ago, Tina was introduced to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® and her team, Pink Soles in Motion, by one of her best friends Nadia Martin. What began as a way to get involved quickly became something much more.

At first, she didn’t fully understand what she had signed up for.

Tina and her best friend Nadia at the Komen 3-Day.

“Nadia told me it was 20 miles, and I know she said it was three days, but it didn’t click that it was 20 miles each day,” Tina said.

That realization came during her first training walk.

“Our captain asked how I felt about walking three days, and my jaw dropped,” she said. “I thought it was 20 miles total. That’s something we still laugh about.”

Since then, Tina has completed the Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day twice, but nothing could have prepared her for the emotional impact of the walk.

“It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before,” she said. “Walking alongside so many different women, all of these different stories, all of these different stages. I know what my mom went through, but this opened my eyes to so much more.”

The Meaning Behind the 3-Day Haiku

That emotional complexity is what inspired Tina’s winning haiku.

Tina's winning 3-Day haiku

“It’s not all sunshine and roses. It’s not all Pink Bubble. There’s sadness and tears,” Tina said. “The first year I walked with Nadia, there was a photo taken where she’s crying. She had plantar fasciitis, and she had to stop because of the pain. She was devastated. It’s just so many emotions rolled into three days.”

Tina said she intentionally reflected both sorrow and hope in her poem.

“People say, ‘We walk until we find a cure,’ but the reality is more complex, and that’s what I wanted to reflect in the haiku,” she said.

Showing Up for Others

Tina G. and friends at the Komen 3-Day.

After two years of walking in Dallas/Fort Worth, Tina is continuing her 3-Day journey in new ways. This year, she will walk Day 3 in DFW and host a cheer station during the first two days.

“The cheer stations are what kept me going,” she said. “Now I want to be that support for others.”

But it’s the emotion of the 3-Day’s Closing Ceremony that continues to bring her back.

“There were women I walked with who I knew wouldn’t be there the next year,” Tina said in tears. “That’s the hardest reality. I’m grateful my mom is a survivor, but not everyone is. That’s why I keep showing up … for those people who can’t come back.”

Tina will also be walking the Tampa Bay 3-Day in 2027 and hopes to continue expanding her participation in the years to come.

“I want to experience every part of the 3-Day,” she added. “I’d love to volunteer, too.”

To learn more about the 3-Day, visit the3day.org.

A Preview of the Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day Route

We are so excited to continue the 2025 Susan G. Komen 3-Day® in just a few days, when the Pink Bubble descends on Dallas/Fort Worth! The 60-mile journey ahead promises not only community and inspiration, but also beautiful city sights, charming neighborhoods and Texas-sized fun.

Day 1

The 3-Day kicks off bright and early in the Lone Star State with the inspiring Opening Ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, right in the heart of downtown. Then walkers will head out on the route, where the adrenaline and excitement of the Pink Bubble will fuel the first leg of the 60-mile walk. You’ll head east through the Government District, an area known for Dallas’s civic buildings and historic monuments. The route leads into Deep Ellum, a vibrant Dallas neighborhood celebrated for the live music that fills the streets and its eclectic restaurants.

You’ll pass Tudor-style homes as you walk through the Hollywood/Santa Monica neighborhood of east Dallas. Along the route, you’ll also see beloved local landmarks like the giant 30-foot eyeball sculpture and the striking red Pegasus.

Back at the hotel, you’ll be welcomed with Bank of America’s massage chairs, a well-deserved dinner and the exciting Celebration of Champions.

Day 2

Before heading out for a second day of walking and exploring, be sure to grab a bite to eat for breakfast at the hotel. Then, get ready for a fun bus ride to the beautiful city of Fort Worth. Walkers will stroll through the serene Fort Worth Water Gardens, located in downtown Fort Worth and known for its tranquil pools and fountains. You’ll visit the JFK Tribute, a bronze sculpture honoring President John F. Kennedy and nearby, Veteran’s Memorial Park, dedicated to the heroes of World Wars I and II.

Back at the 3-Day camp (hotel), you’ll have time to rest and eat before attending the heartfelt Honor Ceremony where we will recognize and share stories of those impacted by breast cancer.

Fort Worth Gardens at the Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day

Day 3

As the sun rises on your final day, you’ll lace up your shoes one more time for the last push of the 60-mile journey. The route begins from the hotel and will take walkers on another day full of exploration. Walkers will get to see Turtle Creek Park, a true gem in the heart of city enjoyed by residents and visitors alike, and the Dallas Museum of Art, which is one of the largest art museums in the country. You will see many much more of Dallas’s most scenic and inspiring spots before you reach the Finish Line Festival, where the community will be there waiting to cheer you on.

There are so many more special places waiting along the Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day route. Whether it’s your first walk with the Pink Bubble, or your 10th, we know this experience will fill your heart and we can’t wait to see you there.