Our Top Blog Posts of 2018…and Why You Should Still Read them in 2019!

Just because 2018 is over, doesn’t mean we can’t continue to learn from the year that was. We’ve compiled your favorite blog posts from the past year (and even further back) to help you start preparing for 2019. These are the posts that participants felt were most helpful, so as you decide to commit to the 3-Day this year, you’re going to want to keep these bookmarked…

3 Reasons to Do a Breast Cancer Walk: If you need an extra boost of motivation to commit to the 3-Day in 2019, this is the perfect post for you! It’s short and sweet, but really gets to the heart of just how important the 3-Day is in the fight against breast cancer.

Wet Weather Walking Tips: This is an oldie but a goodie. We don’t let a little liquid sunshine stop us on the 3-Day, so it’s important to train and walk safely in the rain. This is chock full of great advice for staying warm and dry, no matter the weather!

What You Can Expect from a 60-Mile Walk for Breast Cancer: The 3-Day is the furthest you can go in the fight against breast cancer. Walking 60 miles is no joke! If you’re new to the 3-Day, a past 20-Mile walker, or looking to recruit new teammates, this is a great introduction of what you can expect from your 3-Day weekend.

Pick Your Pack: Waist Pack vs. Backpack Debate: Which will you choose? Everyone has a preference and it’s time to take a side! Are you Team Waist Pack? Or Team Backpack?

Every Question You’ve Had About Multi-Day Walks: It’s only natural to have questions about the 3-Day. It’s a life-changing event that’s also a huge commitment! Even if you’ve been walking for years, there are bound to be questions that come up along the way. We hope this post answers all of them! If not, comment on the post so we can keep the conversation going.

Then, if you need more inspiration…we have some extra ideas!

Our Inspiration Page is updated throughout the year with awesome photos, informational graphics, holiday announcements, and motivational phrases. It’s a great resource to use for content at team meetings, or to share on your social media pages.

The Photos Page is (unsurprisingly) always one of our most-visited pages on the blog. It is the best spot to go if you want to re-live the 3-Day magic, find your favorite photo of you and your breast pals or just need a smile on a hectic day.

What blog posts or pages did you find most helpful this year? Link to them below to spread knowledge and inspiration!

And, don’t forget to commit to the 3-Day in 2019! If you register by February 4^th, you’ll automatically get $20 off. No code required! There is no better time to commit to end breast cancer.

Focusing on Spreading Positivity with Survivor and 3-Dayer, Elaine

When I walked across the finish line, and my son wrapped me up in a hug and whispered, “I’m so proud of you Mom,” that went straight from my ear to my heart.

If you walked the 3-Day in Seattle or Atlanta this year, you likely saw Elaine. Or heard her! She’s a solo walker known for her constant smile and jingling outfits that signal her presence even before you see her coming.

This year marked her 9^th and 10^th 3-Days respectively, and her first year really highlighting her survivor story as part of our partnership with Mohawk Flooring. She says that recognition was never really something she looked for, and as a solo walker, not something she always got. She flew under the radar and made her 3-Day connections in the smaller moments. This year changed that for her.

“To have Mark say ‘Hi!’ to me by name in the morning, or to see the photographer on the route, I feel like the arms have truly been opened to me and I have been fully welcomed into the fold. And I have felt that support and recognition so much this year. I’ve been able to share my story and my message this year in a different way, even after doing this for 8 years. The arms have been opened wide. It’s a beautiful thing and a beautiful welcome.”

The 3-Day family first welcomed Elaine eight years ago, when she walked her first 3-Day while in the middle of radiation. She had already signed up for the 3-Day before her diagnosis and had even sent out more than 100 fundraising letters! She knew she knew she had reached her fundraising goals and felt that she could meet her physical goals as well. Her doctor gave her approval to walk and told her to listen to her body. So, she did. And she walked every one of those 60 miles.

Along the way, she had her first welcome from the 3-Day Pink Bubble.

“I met two Crew ladies on my first walk in Seattle. I was nervous about wearing a survivor shirt and they just enveloped me in this hug. And I was bawling, and they just kept telling me that I could do this. And to be held by them, and feel that support, was everything to me.”

She has continued to have similar memories and stories over the last decade, making new friends each year and finding new strength with every step.

“Whatever you believe in, it’s a comfort to know that there’s a plan. And it’s tough to think, “How could this be part of a plan?” But meeting those ladies on my first 3-Day, or talking to women in Atlanta this year, it just shows me that these things are meant to be this way.

I’m a pretty positive person, and I try to focus on that positive outcome. So, this has been my way to do my part.”

She also does her part year-round, fundraising all year and encouraging those around her to learn about their breast health.

“I want to shake strangers and remind people to go get their mammograms! Just go do it! Early detection is everything. I talk to everybody, whether it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month or not.”

She finished her 10^th walk during Breast Cancer Awareness Month this year, and her son was there to welcome her across the finish line. Though her journey has been long and difficult, she says being a survivor has helped her find more compassion for herself daily, and that the 3-Day has shown her the worth that she brings to the world time and time again.

“It is so much more filled with compassion for me, and for anyone else who has this diagnosis. I can be so much nicer to myself, and the 3-Day helped me with that.

The universe draws us to where we need to be. The universe drew me here to the 3-Day.”

My 3-Day Experience: Checking in with Former AVON 39 Walker, Lenore

This year on the 3-Day, we were happy and honored to welcome many past-AVON 39 walkers to our pink family. One of those walkers, Lenore C., joined our 2018 Philadelphia 3-Day along with a few of her past AVON 39 teammates.

When we talked to her before the event, she said her desire to join the 3-Day came from the simple knowledge that “we can do more together” in the fight against breast cancer.

Now, with those 60-miles behind her, Lenore says she had a stellar experience both preparing for, and walking in the 3-Day.

“I even really enjoyed my fundraising! My husband’s yoga students helped, the Transformation Made Easy digital community supported me tremendously and 3-Day fundraiser emails were essential!

As for training, the 3-Day app was so great. It connected with my calendar, so I could see what I needed to do every day. It was fun and challenging! I got people to go with me on training walks. I took advantage of my environment and explored new paths. I listened to podcasts while I walked alone — thank you Being Here, Audible and Audiobooks. They were amazing company! I listened to all the Harry Potter books!”

After all that support and training, Lenore approached the weekend in Philadelphia with excitement. She found our Opening Ceremony inspiring, but she said she loved the walker stalkers and Crew support most of all.

“It was comforting and hilarious to share snacks and stories with them. The Youth Corps are also the best! Their cheering and chanting were terrific for matching my own enthusiasm. I was charged up all the way!”

As a Philadelphia native returning home for the walk, she also liked the variety in the route, and getting to see everything from “unique and artsy shopping areas to the great spans of green by the Schukyill River to the iconic Rocky Statue and the Liberty Bell” all in one weekend.

And then, after all those sights and steps, she came to the finish line.

“I felt proud and honored. Honored by the presence of all those who supported me personally in my journey that honors my body and my perseverance. Grateful for my body’s responding positively to my demands and also grateful to the bodies of those who can only dream of being able to walk 60 miles but have truly journeyed so much further in overcoming breast cancer.”

She was glad to honor those in her own life who had been affected by breast cancer, including her stepmom, Geri, her best friend’s mom, Rosie, and her first boyfriend’s sister, Crisse. It was their memory that kept her moving all weekend, and she even finished faster than she thought she would.

“I found myself speeding up as I approached the arch and could not and did not resist dancing across that finish line. I kept dancing and was joined by the emcee! It was a blast, our impromptu party! My friends’ and my husband’s smiles, applause and congratulations were elevating!”

She even ended up walking 4 more miles along the route to her car, cheering on those approaching the finish line as she went. She says she also showed off her medal proudly. 😊

So, after all that training, fundraising, walking, and yes, even a little dancing…will she be back in 2019? You bet!

“Oh, yes! I’ll be back! I plan to raise even more money! I think I’ll auction off some specific miles and take photos as proof! I might even promise to execute dares for extra pledges — like walk backwards for 1 or selfies with a man in pink or a pink girl doing a cartwheel… something cooler but, like those are my ideas for now.”

We have no doubt that Lenore will continue to make her 3-Day experience an extraordinary one.

If you want to join Lenore in 2019, the time to sign up is NOW! If you register at The3Day.org by 11:55 PM CST TONIGHT 12/6, you’ll automatically get 50% off your registration fee—no special codes required!

Come and walk with us.