A Love Letter to the 3-Day Family From the Susan G. Komen® Staff

Dear 3-Day Family,

When we think of the word love, we think of you. As everyone is experiencing life in different ways these days, one thing that never falters is the compassion, commitment and community that is the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. This Valentine’s Day, we, a few members of the Susan G. Komen staff, want to show you our love and our thanks for all that you do!

One of my favorite moments each year is the opportunity to enter the Pink Bubble of the 3-Day community. I am constantly impressed by the passion each of you have for this cause and by the commitment you have for each other. On behalf of my colleagues and everyone touched by breast cancer, I want to send you all our love today and to thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Paula Schneider, President and CEO, Susan G. Komen

Our mission to save lives from breast cancer is fueled by the passion of our community—and no one can set the world on fire like our 3-Day community! Every minute I’ve spent on the route has filled my heart in so many ways, and I hope on this Valentine’s Day, each of yours is filled to the brim knowing that what you do makes a difference to so many. Thank you for making our mission possible, driving research forward, supporting patients today, and fighting for a better tomorrow. Sending you love today, and always.

Victoria Wolodzko, SVP, Mission, Susan G. Komen

May you feel the joy and pure unconditional love of the Komen 3-Day pink bubble on this Valentine’s Day!

XOXO,

Lori Maris, SVP, Community Development & Operations, Susan G. Komen

I could not be prouder to be a part of this 3-Day community. You all have shown me vulnerable moments that have, in turn, become inspiring stories that will stay with me for my lifetime. You are the most generous, thoughtful, bad-to-the-bone cancer-fighters out there, and I am better for knowing you. The 3-Day community never ceases to amaze me in the very best ways—happy Valentine’s Day to all of you.
Love,
Stephanie Myers, Sr. Manager 3-Day, Susan G. Komen

The 3-Day community is the very model of camaraderie, friendship and love, and the Komen team is sending you all of our affection this Valentine’s Day. We wish we could deliver chocolates and roses to each and every one of you! Thank you for sharing your stories, sharing your hearts, and sharing your passion for ending breast cancer with us. We love you!

Kari Bodell, VP, Development Programs Strategy, Susan G. Komen

This Valentine’s Day, I want to thank each and every one of you for continuing to spread love to the world during this challenging time. I have witnessed this over the last year with the community supporting each other, lifting each other up, and providing love when we have been apart. I know you have given this to me as you have inspired me and made me laugh regularly. Thank you for your continued passion for saving the lives of our loved ones, friends, and members of our community facing breast cancer. Let’s keep spreading our love to the world!

With lots of love for the Pink Bubble,
Carrie Stovall, VP Events, Susan G. Komen

From our hearts to yours this Valentine’s Day, and always, thank you for all you do to support women and men affected by breast cancer and for your help in ending breast cancer forever.

XOXO,

Your friends at Susan G. Komen

Sidewalks to Science: Getting to Know Dr. Paula D. Bos, Ph.D. at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

With lab colleagues at VCU

Dedicating her life to finding a cure for breast cancer, Dr. Paula D. Bos is driven to help Komen meet our Bold Goal of reducing the current number of breast cancer deaths in the U.S. by 50% by 2026. As an Assistant Professor of Pathology, she and members of her lab are dedicated to developing new treatment options for breast cancer patients with metastatic brain tumors.

In this month’s Sidewalks to Science blog, we will get to know Dr. Bos a little better.

When I’m not in the lab I…

Enjoy the outdoors with my daughter and husband.
Love reading and baking with my daughter.
Am an enthusiastic follower of my daughter’s soccer team. As a native Argentinian, I am very passionate about soccer.

Family Picture at the beach

What I do…targeting immune cells to treat brain metastases.

Although metastatic breast cancer has spread to another part of the body, it’s still considered and treated as breast cancer. Breast cancer that has spread to the brain is treated with breast cancer drugs, rather than treatments for a cancer that began in the brain. However, treatments that work for the primary breast tumor are often ineffective at treating the metastatic brain tumor. Current treatment strategies for brain metastasis, which include surgery and radiation, only offer some improvements for most patients. Therefore, I want to improve the options available to breast cancer patients that have developed brain metastases.

I am investigating how a type of immune cell called a regulatory T (Treg) cell helps breast cancer cells that have spread to the brain grow and survive. Tregs can be found in primary and metastatic breast tumors and correlate with poor patient prognosis. A normal function for Tregs is controlling immune responses, and researchers have shown these cells have the ability to suppress the immune system response against cancer. With my Komen funding, I’m studying how Treg cells support brain metastases. I’m trying to develop a treatment strategy to disrupt the support of breast cancer cells that have metastasized to the brain that could be used in patients.

Breast cancer…touches the lives of so many.

My aunt is a 12-year breast cancer survivor, and other types of cancers have taken dear family members and friends.

Working with patients…motivates my research strategy.

Through my research, I have met and come to admire an incredible group of advocates. Their strength and tireless efforts to bring awareness and increase funding for breast cancer research are a constant incentive to intensify our research efforts.

Dr. Paula Bos

People with breast cancer should…participate in clinical trials!

With new technologies available, science is progressing at a fast pace. We have seen major improvements in the treatment of cancer, especially with the immune system checkpoint blocking antibodies. Breast cancer has yet seen the benefit seen by other cancers, but several approaches are at the clinical trial stage.

Komen is…about patient advocacy!

I have always been motivated to do research to answer pressing clinical needs, but since I started working with patient advocates a few years ago, I now have a better understanding of where the priorities are. Involving advocates allows us to know we are on the right track to discover something of value to the patient community.

“Research is a challenging, expensive, and time-consuming activity. Knowing that patient advocates agree with the goals of our research is reassuring that we are on the right track to discover something of value.”

You can support Dr. Bos and her research by donating directly to her grant here.

If you or a loved one needs information or resources about clinical trials, call our Clinical Trial Information Helpline at 1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877- 465- 6636) or email clinicaltrialinfo@komen.org.

The helpline offers breast cancer clinical trial education and support, such as:

Knowing when to consider a trial
How to find a trial
How to decide which trial is best
What to expect during a trial
Information about clinical trial resources

2018 Philadelphia Susan G. Komen 3-Day Wrap Up

Over the weekend, hundreds of walkers gathered inside the Grand Ballroom at Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing ready to take on the fight against breast cancer. The 2018 Philadelphia 3-Day was the first 3-Day to feature a Camp inside of a hotel, and we were so very excited to pilot this intriguing new model for our 3-Day community.

An energetic Opening Ceremony further reminded us why our steps are so very important, and we took off into Philadelphia.

We walked past Independence Hall at 1.2 miles, and then into our first Pit Stop of the 3-Day weekend at mile 3.6, which was themed with bouncing balls. We continued on to Pit Stop 2 at West Fairmount Park, where our walkers stepped into a fairy tale with the Enchanted Pit Stop, complete with 3-Day Dwarves, “Crampy, Blistery, and Achy.”

The smiling faces of our crew at Pit Stop 2 propelled us forward into lunch at Chamounix Field, 9.2 miles into our route. We showed some team spirit with the Eagles theme, and enjoyed resting on our Mohawk pads and stretching before we took off for the final parts of the route.

While a little bit of rain came down, it didn’t dampen our spirits. A quick stop at Boob Street at Rodin Museum Grounds fueled us up for the remaining five miles of the day, and the community came out to cheer us in as we walked back into the Hilton.

The hotel was serving Philadelphia’s pretzels with pink salt, a perfect local treat to get us ready for dinner and a fun camp show where we awarded some of our participants’ amazing fundraising work, and rewarded milestone and impact award winners, Ronald MacDonald and Dawn Kifer. Then, it was off to bed so we could rest in anticipation of a beautiful Day two.

Day two greeted us with ideal weather and no humidity. Walkers tackled the cobble stone streets of the city, and walked past the art museum, where some walkers took a moment to recreate their Rocky moment and run up the stairs.

Next, we walked along the river while teams rowed in regatta races, and then climbed the hills to Belmont Mansion for its incredible views of the skyline. Then it was time for lions, tigers and bears as the route moved through the Philadelphia Zoo before returning back to camp at the Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing.

Back at Camp, we relaxed in the zen-inducing Bank of America massage chairs and enjoyed a yummy dinner before an entertaining camp show and our classic 3-Day dance party. On Sunday we headed out to South Philly neighborhoods, with Mile 1 passing by Elfreth’s Alley. Walkers were cheered on by inflatable unicorns and dinosaurs, and we wished we could start every day that way.

We also walked by the dueling Pat and Geno’s Steak Shops at mile 11, with some walkers stopping for a yummy bite to eat. After some classic Philly fare, it was onwards past a cheering station at Marconi Plaza, and then past the Sports Complex (home of the Phillies, Flyers, Sixers and Eagles), being welcomed by the Eagles Drum and Bugle Corps who could be heard from a mile away. We also spotted another dancing unicorn — just the whimsical sight we needed to put some pep in our step as we marched toward Closing Ceremony.

The day ended at the historic Navy Yard under sunny skies, with dragon flies whizzing by, reminding us of loved ones lost checking up on us.

Closing Ceremonies were jam packed with friends and family waiting to celebrate our courageous walkers and crew. Together, we raised $2.1 million toward the fight to end breast cancer. Philadelphia, thank you. We are so honored and grateful for everything you do.