Summer is right around the corner which means plenty of opportunities to get up, get outside and have some fun—all for a good cause! Here are some fundraising ideas to get you closer to your goal.
Put in Miles on the Longest Day of the Year
Take advantage of the longest day of the year and pledge to walk your longest training walk on Tuesday, June 21st. Because it’s a weekday, you may have to break it up into a few walks that day. Share your mileage on social media and encourage people in your network to sponsor each mile. Take it a step farther and choose a theme for your miles! Miles 1-3, superhero-themed. Miles 4-6, 90s-themed, and so on! Bonus: Go live on social media during your walk to thank donors for all their support!
Host a Garage or Book Sale
Time for a summer refresh? Clear out your clutter and put it up for sale. You can host a sale by yourself or with a group of friends with all proceeds going towards your 3-Day fundraising efforts. Make signage and put out a donation bowl so attendees know you are raising money for a great cause!
Get Sporty
Play ball! Turn your hobby into a fundraising event. Whether you play baseball (host a Home Run Derby), basketball (host a 3-on-3 tournament), tennis or pickleball (try a round robin tourney), or enjoy indoor sports like bowling (highest score wins), there’s an option for everyone. There are plenty of online resources to help you create and structure your event. Once planned, post on community boards like the Nextdoor app to spread the word.
Not interested in team sports? Host a charity fitness class at a gym or studio! Cycling, dancing, or HIIT, the options are endless and oh so fun.
Ready, Set, Bake!
Do people beg you for your chocolate chip cookie recipe? Or maybe your signature brownies? Share the love and offer to bake a treat for every donation you receive above $100. Take it a step further and let donors choose between 2-3 options as a thank you for donating to your fundraising efforts.
Share Thanks on Social Media
Choose a period of time where every donor at $50 or above gets a special shout-out on your social media channels! Share a post about how much you love them, a funny photo of you together or a favorite memory you have. You can get even more creative and offer to make up a song or dance, or do a drawing for your biggest donors. You don’t have to be good at any of those things—it’s even funnier if you’re not! It’s a fun way to make your donors feel special!
Use our Social Fundraising Toolkit
Are you looking for more ways to fundraise on social media, or maybe need some help finding the right ways to ask for donations? We’ve got you covered with this new social fundraising toolkit! You can find awesome tips, images and fill-in-the-blank prompts to get you at and above your fundraising goal, all right here: The Susan G. Komen 3-Day Social Fundraising Toolkit (the3day.org)
Don’t see something that could work for you? Use these ideas as a starting point to help brainstorm how you could incorporate fundraising into your summer plans. Remember, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Every dollar adds up. As always, reach out to your 3-Day coach at any time for more support or take to your city’s Facebook group to get advice from your fellow participants!
With a rigorous and consistent training schedule, we know it can be hard to get motivated and get walking. We’ve compiled a list of themed training walk ideas to help put some fun into training and get the Pink Bubble hyped up for the 2022 3-Day Series!
Spice Girls
Flash back to the 90s and “spice” up your training walks by having a Spice Girls-themed training walk! Encourage your friends and teammates to dress up as their favorite Spice Girl and blast their albums to get moving!
’70s
Get groovy with a 1970’s-themed training walk! Break out some (comfortable) bell bottoms, colored sunglasses and put together your favorite tunes from the ’70s to bust a move to out on your walk (maybe leave the platforms at home, though)!
Western
Break out that cowboy hat (doubles as sun protection), play some George Strait out of your portable speaker and hit the road! Add some bolo ties and turquoise to your walking apparel for an extra flare, and maybe throw on a John Wayne movie when you get home.
Roaring 20’s
Make 2022 your own version of the roaring 20’s with an awesome themed training walk! Choose which direction you’d like to take between Gatsby, prohibition, or wear some pearls and headbands as walking flapper girls!
Bubbles
Have a bubble party while you’re out walking! Bring a small tube of bubbles and blowers for each person and spread some Pink Bubble love while you’re out putting in those miles!
Disney
Dress up as your favorite Disney characters, play some Disney songs and get down to business with your training! Gather your team when you’re done and have a mad tea party.
Luau
As summer approaches, get in gear with Hawaiian shirts, big straw hats and some calming ukulele tunes. Add some leis and puka shells for an extra flair and finish the walk with a nice cold beverage (put a tiny umbrella in your sports drink ?)!
Mardi Gras
Get decked out in purple, green and gold for a Mardi-gras themed training walk and make sure to have everyone wear beads! Fuel up after the walk with some crawfish ? or beignets!
Star Wars
Walk in style as your favorite Star Wars character! Pretend your water bottle is a light saber and use the force to help you get up some hills.
Pink Party
Are you so excited that you just can’t wait to be on the 3-Day? Get decked out in 3-Day gear from Shop Komen and display your pink for the world to see! Complete the day with a carbo-load of a 3-Day favorite, the Mac & Cheese!
Have you done any themed training walks? Share your ideas in the comments below, and let us know if you use any of our ideas by taking pictures and tagging us on social media.
The Lifetime Commitment Circle honors those who have gone above and beyond their fundraising goals, raising $100,000 individually or $1 million as a team. The following participants recently reached the amazing lifetime fundraising goal of $100,000. Read below to learn what it means to them.
“I couldn’t have reached this milestone without all the amazing support from my donors. This is their milestone as much as it is mine! I walk so that one day my daughters won’t HAVE to…they will only walk because they WANT to.” —Nicole S.
“I am so proud to say that since 2018 I have raised about $150,000 for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day and prior to that, I raised about $100,000 for the Avon 39 Walks! It means the world to me and the more I raise the more I want to help everyone! As a 17-year breast cancer survivor all I want is for no one to have to hear the words ‘you have cancer.’ I want to participate in the 3-Day along with more survivors every year until the cures are found. It’s an extremely important part of my life!” —Debbie S.
“Reaching this fundraising milestone has made me realize how blessed I am to have such an amazing circle of family and friends that continue to support my 3-Day journey. I couldn’t have gotten this far without them. I will continue to walk as long as I’m able, because we’re not done yet!” —Beth N.
“I feel blessed that I have been able to be a part of the 3-Day family. I feel if we all work together, we can make a difference.” —Laura F.-K.
“My mom died of breast cancer 50 years ago. At the time, there was no hope and no cure, and my Mom fought her battle in silence. When the 3-Day events began, I signed up to walk. My daughter was about two years old. I made a promise that I would walk until there was a cure. For 23 years I have worn the same shirt on Day 3 that reads, “In memory of my Mom. In hope for my daughter’s future.” The 3-Day and the $100,000 I have raised reminds me every day that there absolutely is hope and we will find the cures. No one needs to fight in silence.” —Julie L.
“Fundraising was incredibly intimidating for me when I first walked the 3-Day in 2006. I carefully picked who I sent letters to and was absolutely amazed at the response I received and the personal stories I heard. Through my continued participation each year, I saw the work Susan G. Komen was doing and became unapologetically greedy for this cause.
I don’t take it personally if someone donates or not. I have gotten bolder each year, and now ask anyone and everyone to join me in my journey to finding the cures. I live in my 3-Day shirts when I am fundraising, and I did not own even one pink item before 2004. I ask for donations multiple times. I wear my team pin daily and pass out my business card at the slightest interest by random strangers. I am so very proud of the dollars my loyal and first-time donors and I have raised, because I know that together we are making a difference. Reaching $100,000 in donations is incredible. I never dreamed I could reach it ? until it appeared I could. Now, I’m working to get to $150,000 this season!
I started walking in memory of a treasured friend who lost her 12-year battle with breast cancer in 2004. I was unaware of Susan G. Komen before Gail died. Since then, I have been surrounded by this diagnosis through family and friends, so I continue to raise money for those in my life, and those in my donors’ lives.
My closest friend since childhood has told me her story changed because of what I was doing and the advances in treatment she benefitted from six years ago. Also, a beloved family member of mine is thriving following her mastectomy and treatment plan. How can you stop fundraising after that? The 3-Day community has become my cherished family over these past 15 years and 17 walks. As one, we are walking towards the world as we wish it could be every day ? filled with love, compassion, laughter and hope. For all these reasons, and more, I cannot walk away.” —Nancy S.
“Reaching $100,000 means that I have achieved part of my goal to help put an end to breast cancer. I continue to fundraise, though, because SO much more is needed. My next personal goal is to reach $200,000 before I turn 80. And I expect to continue to fundraise and walk well past then! Finding the Komen 3-Day has truly been a life-changing event for me and will continue to be until I am no longer here.” —Glen D.
“Reaching the $100,000 milestone has reinforced for me how important community is in fighting breast cancer. I could not have reached this milestone without the love and support of my family, friends and community. I continue to fundraise and participate in the 3-Day because I continue to lose friends and family to this terrible disease. I have lost my mother and countless friends, and I don’t want to lose any more. I walk for them, and I walk for the future of my daughter, daughters-in-law and my granddaughters!” —Sue T.
“I am flattered but extremely grateful to be recognized for my fundraising. Like everyone inside the Pink Bubble, I walk and raise money to help create a world without breast cancer. The 3-Day has been an integral part of my life since I traveled from my home in the Cayman Islands to Dallas/Fort Worth for my first walk in 2011. Little did I know back then where this journey would take me over the next 11 years: 18 completed 3-Days (plus 11 additional long-distance walks for breast cancer), over 1,000 miles walked, over $100,000 raised, several pink tutus and furry Muppet hats I wear on the route, and countless new friends, many of whom have encouraged me to start a 3-Day on Grand Cayman (our island is so small that it would consist of loops!).
The 3-Day world is one of kindness, compassion, empathy and inspiration where courageous survivors walk alongside grateful wanderers like yours truly and experience every possible emotion along the way. I have cherished sharing the sidewalks with those whose lives have been directly or indirectly affected by breast cancer. My own list of loved ones for whom I walk in tribute or memory has grown each year and includes my Aunt Helen, who was diagnosed in May 2020 and is now cancer-free after a year of treatment with her family over 1,500 miles away. My walk in San Diego last November was in honor of Aunt Helen.
I can’t wait to walk in all four events in 2022, including Chicago, where my daughter Madison will join me for her 3-Day debut. Thank you again for all you do to support us, and I look forward to seeing everyone later this year.” —Rob I.
“It’s always hard to boast about yourself but reaching $100,000 was a very proud moment for me. Having never done any kind of fundraising like the 3-Day requires, I didn’t know how I was even going to raise $2,300 my first year. However, once I started, with dear friends and family still suffering from this awful disease, I haven’t even considered stopping. Next thing I knew, I was hitting milestones that kept driving me to do more. Susan G. Komen has been a part of so many breakthroughs in breast cancer research, I feel great about being able to support their efforts. This disease is instantly life changing, and often not for the good, so finding the cures is our way of trying to protect future generations!” —Stephanie S.
“I’ve been participating in this event for a long time. I am addicted and have been walking 3-Day events since 1998 and Komen 3-Days since they started in the early 2000s.
I have a loyal and generous set of teammates in the donors who have supported my addiction/commitment for these many years. I am very grateful for them and honored to be teammates with them in the fight against breast cancer.
I am thrilled to have been able to contribute to the essential work that Susan G. Komen does in bringing an end to breast cancer and supporting those who contract the disease. The advances that have been made in detection and treatment since I started walking in 1998 are astounding, and the money that has been able to go to facilitating access to those advances is hugely important.
Our job is not yet done. Until there is an end to this disease, there is more work to be done. My best friend and tentmate/teammate was diagnosed in 2020. She benefitted from the advances made in the 20 years since her sister died of the disease. We are on a good path, but we are not done yet.
The people and environment in each 3-Day is so special, like nothing else that I have experienced. I have deepened friendships with my teammates through training, fundraising and walking.
I am also contagious… I have brought many friends and acquaintances to the 3-Day. It is my happy place.” —Peggy P.
Susan G. Komen® was founded on a promise from one sister to another to do everything in her power to bring an end to breast cancer. The commitment you all show when you go above and beyond your fundraising goals to reach these incredible milestones is recognized by induction into the Lifetime Commitment Circle. We congratulate and thank each of you for supporting Komen’s vision of a world without breast cancer. For more information on the Lifetime Commitment Circle, click here. Stay tuned for our next blog about the Lifetime Commitment Circle, honoring all of the 3-Day teams who have recently reached a lifetime fundraising total of $1,000,000.
