Congratulations to the Twin Cities 3-Day Top Fundraisers!

Today marked Day 1 of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® in Twin Cities , and walkers and crew enjoyed Minnesota’s lush green landscape at scenic spots like the Lake Harriet band shell, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, and B.H. Nelson Park. Upon arrival at the Komen 3-Day camp, participants enjoyed new camp elements that premiered last weekend in Michigan, like a make-your-own trail mix bar, and cozy bean bags and foot rests. The 3-Day® camp show wrapped up a beautiful day, and our friends from Bank of America helped us recognize the top fundraisers for the Twin Cities 3-Day. Please join us in saying congratulations to these inspiring people!

Top Fundraising Team: Northern Nippys, $62,445 raised

This is the Northern Nippys’ sixth year at the 3-Day, and in that time they’ve raised an incredible $184,195 total. The 2014 Northern Nippys team has 33 members.

Northern Nippys Team Captain Laura

Top Crew fundraiser: Sharon Gruenhagen, $4,650 raised

Hats off to Sharon Gruenhagen who raised $4,650; and has raised $21,963 lifetime total. This is Sharon’s 7^th event as a crew member in Twin Cities; she is part of the Sweep team this year.

Top Crew Fundraiser Sharon G.

Top Individual Fundraiser: Patricia Miller, $14,000 raised

Patricia Miller raised $14,000 this year; and has raised an astonishing $70,739 in the six years and six events she has completed. Patricia lost her mother to breast cancer 60 years ago when she was just 5 years old. She walks today because she wants to help others who fight this disease.

Top Individual Fundraiser Patricia M.

We’re so grateful to these amazing participants and for all of you who take steps every day to help us end breast cancer forever. To learn more about the top individual, Crew and team fundraisers in Twin Cities, as well as our eight series walkers, check out the framed table-top displays in the dining tent in camp.

Congratulations to Bert S., the Michigan 3-Day’s Milestone Award Winner!

Congratulations to Bert S., the Susan G. Komen Michigan 3-Day Milestone Award Winner, who has raised approximately $175,000 over the 10 events he’s participated in (nine in Michigan, and one in Chicago.)

Bert’s inspiration to walk his first Komen 3-Day came after a very dear friend of his was diagnosed with breast cancer. “Her husband and I felt helpless and just felt we needed to do something. We formed our “Mavens” team and that first year was literally life changing for both of us, and we’ve been walking every year, ever since. I am happy to report that my friend has beaten breast cancer – she’s a survivor!” said Bert. (Bert, 81, laughs as he describes the meaning behind his team name — “The wise guys!”, and Bert’s wife, whom he calls “his maven”, defines as a knowledgeable person.)

Milestone Award Winner Bert on his way to 60 miles on Day 2 of the Susan G. Komen Michigan 3-Day

Bert says that fundraising letters have been the key to his success. Bert’s assistant of 34 years, Pam, helps Bert write his fundraising letter. “It wouldn’t happen without Pam,” he said. Bert also notes how details are important when it comes to sending out fundraising letters, as they can help guarantee your success and help your donors realize what they will accomplish by supporting you. “We probably sent out 145 letters this year and we got about 142 responses. You have to tell people how far we’ve come in conquering the disease. And, what a wonderful percentage of recovery we have today.”

As a veteran 3-Day walker, Bert said that his best advice to anyone walking the 3-Day is to train, train, train. “I cannot put enough emphasis on training — start with short distances and work your way up. Stay focused on “finishing” the event,” he said. Bert also adds that in his personal experience, after about fourteen miles, completing the walk is “all mental”.

Like many 3-Day walkers, Bert is aware of the risk of breast cancer and how it can change a family. Bert has been married for 60 years, to his wife Marion, and he has four daughters, three granddaughters, and a grandson. “I have a lot of good friends who have been touched one way or another by this disease. It’s their mother, their grandmother, their wife…This disease can hit anyone at any time and I literally walk today so that someday, there will be no reason to walk. I have met some amazing people over the years and they continue to inspire me with every step of every walk.” You inspire us too, Bert.

Challenge Accepted! How many of these 3-Day Fundraising Challenges have you tried?

Back in February, we started occasionally posting Fundraising Challenges on the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® Facebook and Twitter pages. These prompts are meant to give a little (or not-so-little) spark to your Komen 3-Day fundraising efforts from week to week, and get your own juices flowing for other creative fundraising strategies.

In case you missed any of the 3-Day® Fundraising Challenges, or want to revisit ones that worked well for you earlier, we’ve listed them all below. Happy fundraising!

CHALLENGE! Raise $100 by the end of the day. How will you do it? GO!
Let’s kick off the week with a #FundraisingChallenge! Today, your goal is to score donations from three different people. What’s your plan of attack?
Time for today’s #3DayFundraising Challenge! Share this post on your newsfeed, and challenge someone to be the first to make a donation in the amount of the time. For example: we’re posting this at 8:30 a.m. PST – we’d need someone to make an $8.30 donation. Report back with how you did!
Do you need a little help getting started with fundraising? We know that sometimes the first step is the hardest. We challenge you to share your fundraising link on Facebook today and ask for a donation, because we believe you can do this. #3DayFundraising
Today’s #3DayFundraising Challenge is in honor of Administrative Professional’s Day. Your challenge? Asking someone you work with for a donation. Let us know how you did!
Happy Birthday! To who, you ask? There has to be someone in your group of friends that will donate in honor of a special person’s May birthday. For today’s #Fundraising Challenge, ask for a donation in honor of a May birthday. Cake not included.
Today is 5/31. Can you score five $31 donations in honor of a memorable May? #The3Day
Take this allegedly unlucky day (Friday the 13th!) and turn it into a lucky one. Ask someone to make it your lucky day today with a 3-Day donation!
Today’s Fundraising Challenge? All about the weather! Ask for donations today to help you raise whatever the temperature is in your area. You might even have someone donate the whole amount!
Are you ready for today’s Fundraising Challenge? It’s $50 Friday, so ask your friends to support you with $50 donations. It’s a great time to remind them that they can split that $50 into payments (up to 4) if they’d like. Go post it now, then come back later to tell us how you did!
It’s Thirty Thursday! No, we didn’t make a typo, we meant to say Thirty! Today, your fundraising challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to ask for three $30 donations. Do it, and report back!

Got a suggestion for a Fundraising Challenge that we could throw out to the 3-Day community? Tell us in comments!

Oh, and while you’re all revved up about fundraising, you can revisit our other fundraising blog posts by clicking here, and see loads of pinned ideas on our Creative Fundraising Pinterest board here.