Tag Archives: Event Experience

3-Day Family Fun with Dan Sinclair

If you didn’t already know that August is Family Fun Month, don’t worry! You still have a few days to make the most of this festive month by enjoying some sunshiny summer fun with your favorite people. Whether your family walks with you on the 3-Day or you just lean on them during your 3-Day journey, family is part of everything that the 3-Day stands for.

Someone who knows that all too well is Dan Sinclair from Michigan. 3-Dayers will recognize his smiling face (and pink ponytail) from his time as a walker and Route Safety Crew member. He has been participating in the 3-Day in various ways since 2002, many times alongside his family. This year, however, was different.

This year in Michigan was the first time he walked with his daughter Dawn and two of his granddaughters, Emma and Megan. It was that combination of special women that meant so much to Dan.

“My daughter has walked a lot, and I’ve crewed and walked a lot. But we’ve never gotten to walk together. So, being able to walk together with her, and her daughter, was magical. It culminated everything we have done and was super fun.

It was also important because I walked with my granddaughter, who’s 16. That’s why we walk. She’s the reason. My reason. Being at the Closing Ceremony with all of them was just a magical moment.”

He is not the only one who feels this way. Other members of his family have joined him on his 3-Day journey to support the women in their lives. Aside from Dawn, Emma and Megan, his Michigan 3-Day team included his sister-in-law Sue, nephew Dave and niece Michelle, plus his “Navy sister” Sherry and her son Robbie. Dan met Sherry on the 3-Day years ago, and though they were united by a shared history in the military, it was the 3-Day that really brought them together. Sherry and Robbie came in from Texas to be a part of Dan’s team, “70, Surviving and Sweeping.”

But Dan’s love and dedication goes beyond his family, and even beyond his team to the whole 3-Day community. He is participating in six 3-Days this year (only missing Dallas/Fort Worth) and appreciates that the 3-Day brings out happiness and love all around.

“You get to see people at their kindest. At their best.”

He hopes that some of that spirit rubs off on his family, especially a certain someone…

“I’m hoping that my granddaughter picks some of this up. She’s a really good kid already! And she’s been glowing since that weekend. This walk ain’t for sissies! And she did it!”

Other lessons he would pass on to families who 3-Day together are:

  • “Learn kindness through adversity. Life isn’t always pleasant, and if you lose it, you’ve lost it. You can’t take words and actions back. So just be kind.”
  • “Be careful and plan your fundraising! We had 11 people on the same team, all fundraising at the same time. You have to start early and plan ahead! Put your goal out there early and remind people. Work together and plan and hope for a little bit of luck.”
  • And finally, “Be prepared to cry together. It’s a happy cry, but you will cry.”

Though his own family won’t be with him on the rest of his 2019 3-Days, he knows he won’t be alone this fall. He has another family to look forward to.

“My family says, ‘Oh, Dad’s out playing in the Pink Bubble!’ They go back to school and I go to my pink family.”

We’re honored to have Dan, and all the other families who participate with us, as part of our pink family. We can’t wait to share more fun, love and kindness with all of them, in August and beyond.

2019 Twin Cities 3-Day Wrap-Up

The weekend could not have been brighter or more fun for our Twin Cities 3-Day. 400 walkers and 150 crew gathered together to honor our community and celebrate the start of an amazing 3 days. Our 60-Mile journey began with an emotional Opening Ceremony at our hotel camp. Local participants shared their stories, then our local survivors and those living with metastatic breast cancer led our walkers out into the sun and onto the route…

The walk began with time for photos and famous Minnesota sights in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and through Kenwood Park. The local community came out with cheer stations at William Berry and Lynnhurst Parks before lunch. Lunch was shady and relaxing thanks to the sunglasses from Amgen and bright pink mats and shade tents from Mohawk Flooring. Before they knew it, our walkers had already conquered 10 miles!

At Grab B, walkers could stop and take in the picturesque Minnehaha Falls and relax under some shady trees. It was there that we also met our Twin Cities Youth Corps team, who spread smiles and enthusiasm all weekend long!

Pit Stop 3 was a great selfie opportunity, thanks to crew fun, and then a few miles later, our walkers came home to the hotel camp. Down the pink carpet, and into our 3-Day Camp Main Street, walkers were reinvigorated thanks to the Bank of America massage chairs, sweet treats from Amgen Oncology, and a hearty evening meal. After dinner, we played a rousing game of 3-Day BINGO and ended Day One with lots of laughs.

Saturday began with our Bank of America Breakfast of Champions, where we awarded our Top Fundraisers for Twin Cities, as well as honoring our Milestone and Local Impact Award Winners. It was the perfect way to start our Day 2, and we were excited to cheer on our walkers as they headed out into the sunlight.

The cheering and support continued all day long thanks to community support like the Susan G. Komen Minnesota Affiliate, who supported our walkers at Pit Stop 2. The excitement reached a peak at lunch at Central Park in Roseville. There we held our halfway celebration, as walkers were already 30 miles down in their weekend journey. There were extra photo opps and celebratory decorations, as well as a dance party led by Mark and our Youth Corps and Crew. It was the perfect way to start the second half of our day!

From there, walkers passed through the beautiful areas of Little Canada and White Bear Lake. The walk along the water, and underneath shady trees, helped make the sunny afternoon a comfortable and enjoyable one. There were plenty of cheering stations, and even free pink ice cream cones at Cup and Cone in White Bear Lake. The day ended with a bus pick-up from White Bear Lake Area Schools. Walkers took a bus back home to our hotel camp, and after our Day 2 final walker arrived, we were all united.

From there, we held our second Honor Ceremony, hearing stories from local participants and our Twin Cities Youth Corps. We raised our voices and our hearts together to remember why we walk, and why we will never give up. Everyone went to sleep on Saturday night with hearts full of love and excitement for our final day together.

Day 3 brought perfect walking weather, thanks to some evening rain the night before. Walkers made great time as they trekked through Falcon Heights and into St. Paul. Van Cleve and Como Regional Parks brought beautiful sights and easy steps as walkers made their way into lunch. By midday, they had already walked more than 11 miles!

Our afternoon was spent throughout St. Paul, including a stop at the Summit Overlook Park, which provided great views of the city and many a photo opportunity.

But soon enough the day, and the 60-mile walk, were over. Our walkers crossed the finish line in front of the Minnesota State Capital building, cheered on by friends and family. They received their Bank of America medals, and proudly wore them while they celebrated, took photos, and relaxed in our Finish Line Festival area. Then, our last walker came home, leading the crew and all our local survivors into the cheering crowd of our 3-Day participants.

There was much to celebrate! Our 400 Twin Cities walkers and 150 Crew raised an amazing $1.1 million this weekend in the fight against breast cancer! We danced under the sun, hand in hand, and ended the weekend with smiles all around. Thank you, Twin Cities, for yet another amazing 60-mile journey with us!

Congratulations to the 2019 Twin Cities 3-Day Local Impact Award Winner, Kim Williams

For the 2019 Susan G. Komen 3-Day® season, we’re pleased to be continuing the Local Impact Award. This award is being given to participants who have been instrumental in strengthening the 3-Day® community throughout the year. Local Impact Award honorees have gone above and beyond in their efforts leading training walks, attending 3-Day community events, supporting the 3-Day staff year-round at meet-ups and workshops, and in general, making a difference by building lasting relationships and showing commitment to the 3-Day in all they do.

Please join us in congratulating the 2019 Twin Cities 3-Day Local Impact Award Winner, Kim Williams!

Kim has become a vital part of our Twin Cities 3-Day community, going out early to mark the route for training kick-off events as well as assisting with street team day and being an active training walk leader for years. She has also served as a member of the 3-Day Advisory Council for two years.

Her friend Sue Norling says, “Kim and I started our 3-Day adventure way back in 2009. We became friends during those training walks that first year, and the rest they say is 3-day history.

It is now 11 years later and I count Kim as a close friend all year round. We have had a lot of memories to laugh about over the years. I can always count on Kim to help me lead an 18-mile training walk even if she’s going to be on the crew, and does not need to train. She will even fly across the country to crew with me.  Through, heat, rain, re-locations, and travels. She is very deserving of this award, congratulations, my friend.”

We were honored to talk to Kim about what the 3-Day means to her, and what she has learned over the years…

What was your inspiration to do your first 3-Day??? 

I had started walking in the Komen Race for the Cure in 2002. In 2008 I found out my mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I felt I had to do something bigger. I ended up going to a 3-day Get Started meeting on a snowy day and have been participating every year since 2009.  At the end of 2019, I will have participated in 15 events.

What has brought you back to the 3-Day year after year?

Besides raising funds for Komen, I have met and worked with a wide range of great people. A handful of them will be lifelong friends.  Because of this, I would look forward to my summers on event in MN.

What is the secret to your 3-Day fundraising success?

Honestly, I am not successful at fundraising. I have been fortunate to have friends and co-workers who are VERY generous.

What is your best advice to anyone walking the 3-Day? 

Make sure you train and follow one of the two training schedules. It is also important to allow time for life and family. When you are on your event, it is okay if you cannot walk all 60 miles. The people driving the sweep and shuttle vans are awesome. We want you to enjoy the 3-day experience and not end up in the medical tent or getting red carded!!!

What’s a fun fact about you?

I was given the nickname of “Falcon” on the 2011 San Francisco 3-Day. If you are afraid of birds, I will shoo them away for you. Also, I was excited to volunteer at camp, crew on a sweep van and finish the 2018 San Diego 3-Day as a 20-Mile walker.

What are the most important lessons you’ve learned on the 3-Day? 

Be proud to wear your 3-Day gear (finisher shirts, hats, buttons, pins etc.) You may run across a stranger who is a breast cancer survivor or has family/friend who has battled this disease. Strangers will thank you for what you do (walking or crewing) and they may even what to give you a hug or a donation. Participating on the 3-Day is not easy and can be exhausting, but it’s a great experience.