inspirational stories Archives

Tiffany K starts the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® in San Diego for the first time…after seven years

“When my grandmother was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in 1989, I made the move from Dallas to Oklahoma to be her primary caregiver,” said Tiffany this morning on the Susan G. Komen 3-Day^® in San Diego.

“I was only fourteen years old.”

“My family told me to call them in Texas if anything serious happened.” Tiffany’s experience helping her grandmother through treatment must have added to her determination in life. (Her grandmother is now a survivor of over 24 years!) Seven years ago, she successfully registered for the Komen 3-Day in Dallas and raised over $5,000, well above the minimum needed to walk the 60 miles. And then a walker’s nightmare occurred. “I had an almost full rupture of my Achilles tendon just ten days before the event,” said Tiffany resting in Pit Stop 1 after the first segment of Friday’s 20-mile course along beautiful Del Mar, California. The recovery from such a tear can be tedious and exhausting, and it put her out of walking a 3-Day® for years.

Team members of ‘Cliff’s Crew’ walk with new teammate Tiffany K on the San Diego 3-Day

In the meantime, Tiffany moved to Playa del Rey, California, and decided that 2013 would be the time to finally walk the 3-Day. “I’m going to make this happen!” she said to herself. She knew, however, that the walk would be easier with team support, and so she logged onto ‘The3Day.org’ website and started to post to the forums to see if she could join up with a team. “Team ‘Cliff’s Crew’ answered the call for me, and I felt good about walking with them after having met them a few times,” mentioned Tiffany, as some of the pink camoflage-clad members of the team approached.

Kellie T from Rossmoor, California, and Jeanne F from Santa Maria were ready to head back on the route. “We have 42 members total on the San Diego 3-Day this year,” they explained, “and we’re in the top five teams for fundraising with over $85,000!”

Say ‘hello’ to Tiffany on her first 3-Day this weekend in San Diego and to her great team ‘Cliff’s Crew’!

Deven F awaits Opening Ceremony of the Washington D.C. 3-Day

Deven F awaits the Opening Ceremony of the Washington, D.C. 3-Day

“I can’t take the breast cancer away from her,” explained Deven F this morning in the dark. “So when I saw a Susan G. Komen 3-Day^® ad on TV, I thought, ‘That’s what I have to do!'” Deven’s mother Judi was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago and is now a two-year survivor. “I just registered online in 2011, and the 3-Day started sending me all the paperwork. That’s when my mom asked me what I was doing.” Deven’s smile was contagious, even in a steady rain, on a chilly October morning. He is joining almost 1,000 participants today who will walk 60 miles over three days to raise funds for breast cancer research.

Judy and Deven cruise through Pit Stop 1 on the rain in Washington D.C. 3-Day

Judi and Deven cruise through Pit Stop 1 in the rain in Washington, D.C.

“I chose the team name ‘Not Another Mom’ for obvious reasons,” said Deven, “but I also had a co-worker pass away from breast cancer in 2011, and so I see how it affects people.” As he talked, some past walkers greet him, a sign of his past influence on the route here in Washington, D.C.

Deven and Judi were front and center at the high-energy Opening Ceremony, despite the rain. ‘If every mom could have a child as committed and caring as Deven,’ I think as they rolled into Pit Stop 1 right on time and looking good. “I’m a survivor!” says Judi from underneath her poncho, and stopped for a picture. She is all smiles on her first 3-Day adventure, and has all the support she needs.

Judy and Deven experience the emotional and uplifting Opening Ceremony of the Washington D.C. 3-Day

Judi and Deven experience the emotional and uplifting Opening Ceremony of the Washington D.C. 3-Day

I asked Deven about what it’s like to be a man on the Washington, D.C. 3-Day, and he responded: “I don’t see why there aren’t more men! This is always fun when you’re one of the only men. There are so many great people out here, and we have to support those with breast cancer and to help find a cure.”

Give a shout out to Deven and Judi in Washington, D.C. this weekend, and share some of your own stories about who is helping you!