First-timers on the Boston 3-Day

Everyone give a warm welcome to Cyndi, Sandy and Denise!

Cyndi Whitehead, Sandy Haynes, and Denise Vaudrin during lunch on the Boston 3-Day.

When Cyndi Whitehouse of Springfield, Massachusetts, was diagnosed with breast cancer 30 years ago, she probably could not foresee July 26, 2013 as her first day on a Susan G. Komen 3-Day^® Series with sister Sandy Haynes and good friend Denise Vaudrin! Here they are, and being with them even for a few minutes at lunch gave me the sense of their great love for each other and of life. Cyndi asked her sister and friend to walk with her, and they gladly said, “Yes!”

How did they remember their first day? “Ouch!” They recommend a lot of training to prepare walkers for the long days. They also had some great ideas for fundraising, as they had a local vineyard hold a wine tasting, complete with a relabeled wine “Poppy’s Girls” (named after the sisters’ father). It sounded like a great evening with everyone happy and interested in breast cancer research and finding a cure.

"Poppies" is a relabeled wine served for fundraising for the Boston 3-Day®

“Poppy’s Girls” is a relabeled wine served for fundraising for the Boston 3-Day®

It’s wonderful to hear that Cyndi has been doing well for 30 years! Welcome to your first Komen 3-Day, Cyndi, Sandy, and Denise!

The Silent Survivor

As I post today’s inspirational 3-Day story, our amazing 2013 Boston 3-Day Crew are busy decorating sweep vans, marking routes and making preparations to support the 3-Day walkers who will begin their 3-Day journey tomorrow. If you would like to cheer on our walkers this weekend, check out our Spectator Information for locations and times when walkers will be passing by.

Debbi Shaffer is walking in her fourth 3-Day in Washington DC, and has also cheered friends as a “walker-stalker” in San Diego. Debbi proudly wears her 3-Day survivor Victory t-shirt now, but it took her years to share her very personal experience with breast cancer. We are thankful that she chose to share it with us on The 3-Day Blog.

Eighteen years ago, Debbi got the news that changed her life. “I can hardly believe it has been 18 years since my boyfriend found a lump in my left breast. When I went to my doctor and was told I had breast cancer, at the time all I could think was, ‘28 year olds are not supposed to have breast cancer’. I was silent about my own experience for many years.” Continue reading →

3-Day Must Do’s

Our second event of the season kicks off in Boston on Friday (or Thursday for our magnificent Crew members attending Crew training). If you’ve never participated in the 3-Day before, not knowing what to expect can be nerve-wracking. The 3-Day Facebook page, message boards, official 3-Day training walks and this blog are all great places to get advice from veteran walkers.

Jennifer Hanskat, breast cancer survivor, 3-Day coach and 11-year 3-Day participant certainly qualifies as an expert! This year she will be on the Crew in Chicago and is reuniting with her former San Diego team, walking in November to celebrate her Aunt Linda’s 60th birthday year and Jennifer’s 5 year cancer-versary! Congratulations Jennifer! I asked her what the “must-do” experiences were for a 3-Day newbie.

Take your time on the route. “It’s a journey, not a race. Pace yourself and take it all in. Savor the moments – there isn’t a prize if you get back to camp first.” Continue reading →