Tag Archives: Komen 3-Day®

Your Guide to Packing for the 3-Day

It’s almost time to pack your bags for the 2024 Susan G. Komen 3-Day®! Whether you’re driving in from down the road or catching a flight across the country, it’s imperative to bring the right gear with you. This includes everything from daily toiletries to on-route essentials. To help you remember everything you might need to show up in the Pink Bubble fully prepared, follow our packing checklists for hotels and camping. 

WHAT TO BRING 

CLOTHING — Bring clothing appropriate for all types of weather — including cold, rain and heat. This includes shorts, leggings, socks, undergarments, a rain jacket/poncho, t-shirts, sweatpants, visor, sleepwear, and shoes. Be sure to pack a few outfits for each day since you’ll need to adapt to the forecast each morning and will likely want to change your outfit after returning to camp.  

TOILETRIES — Though hotels tend to have toiletries available to you, we strongly recommend packing everything you might need for your hygiene and comfort. This includes sunscreen, toothpaste, toothbrush, moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, razor, hair ties, and a hairbrush. Also, don’t forget any prescription medication that you take regularly. 

FIRST AID — While we’ll have supplies and Medical Crew to tend to any major medical issues at the event, you should bring your own supplies for tending to minor medical and personal problems along the route. This includes band aids, petroleum jelly (e.g., Vaseline®), antacid, pain reliever, or anything else you anticipate needing.  

MISCELLANEOUS — Don’t forget to print and pack your credentials before showing up on event! (2-Day Walkers and 1-Day Walkers will receive your credentials when you arrive at the event.) In addition to these necessities, there may be some other things you want to bring with you. Our recommendations include anything you may use daily or to document your experience in the Pink Bubble. Consider a phone charger, journal, camera, and your Bank of America Pink Ribbon Banking card to secure a special gift in camp! 

CAMPING 

For those camping at the Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day, you will wrap up each evening in a 6.5’x 6.5’ tent. For maximum comfort, you’ll want to bring some camping gear such as a sleeping bag and pillow, air mattress or camping pad, plastic sheets or tarp to keep your tent and gear dry in case of rain, a headlamp or flashlight, and mylar blankets. Throw in some decorations for your tent and you could earn a Tent Flair legacy pin!  

ON THE ROUTE 

Aside from your main piece of luggage, we recommend bringing a waist pack for use on the route with a few essentials for the journey. We suggest packing this ahead of time so you’re sure to have everything you need out on the route. In this, you may want to place a portable charger, sunglasses, sunscreen, money/credit card, identification, and a water bottle to refill along the way. Keep it light yet complete with everything you found yourself using while training. We serve water and sports drinks from large containers, so you must bring your own water bottle.  

YOUR LUGGAGE 

Pack up everything in one piece of luggage that is clearly labeled with your name, participant identification number, and cell phone number. To ensure easy transport and identification, make sure it weighs no more than 35 pounds once packed and is marked with something such as a unique luggage tag to help you pick it out of a crowd.  

WHAT NOT TO BRING 

Though fundraising is a core part of the Komen 3-Day, please don’t bring any donations, cash or otherwise, to the event. Be sure to have all your dollars added directly to your personal fundraising page before arriving at the hotel or campsite. To prevent loss or theft of any kind, leave behind any valuables such as fine jewelry, designer goods, or large amounts of cash. For safety reasons, headphones or portable music players are not permissible while walking on event so, although you may use them while traveling, leave them in your hotel room before heading out on the route each morning.  

THE NIGHT BEFORE 

On Thursday night before the Opening Ceremony, be sure to charge your phone, print your credential, and plan for a morning snack/breakfast. Be sure your waist pack is stocked with everything you need (extra socks, lip balm, etc.) and don’t forget your water bottle. 

We can’t wait to see you in the Pink Bubble! 

Embarking on a 60-Mile Walk while Battling Breast and Ovarian Cancer

For Ashley L., sharing her story is a part of her healing journey.  

In October 2022, Ashley decided to be proactive and get her first mammogram since her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50 and is also BRCA 1 positive. At just 35 years old, this routine procedure led to a stage 1 breast cancer diagnosis with abnormal webbing that is only present in 6% of breast cancer patients. Shortly after, she learned that she, like her mother, was BRCA positive, another finding she needed to process.  

In the following months, Ashley faced one life-changing, frightening event after another: 

November 2022: Right breast removal including the nipple, spacer in place 

December 2022: ACL surgery 

January 2023: Stage IV ovarian cancer diagnosis 

February 2023: Treatment begins at new hospital, City of Hope, with new doctors 

Current Day: Ashley continues to receive infusions every three weeks and takes a chemo pill every day, which will go on for some time. Eventually, she will need to remove the left breast and nipple to prevent the return of the breast cancer and to prevent it from acting as a gateway for the BRCA gene.  

As she continues her battle with breast and ovarian cancer, Ashley refuses to allow her diagnoses to define her. “I love trying new things, going on adventures, and I make a really big point to give myself space to have bad days,” she shared. She finds normalcy in her work as a Director of Staffing in property management, a career she finds extremely rewarding, and cherishes her time with friends, family, and her German Shepard, Ms. Harley. Through the hardships of treatment, Ashley remains steadfast in her passions of travel, painting, and writing, even recently publishing a children’s book! 

Another favorite pastime of Ashley’s is walking, so when she saw an ad for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® online she knew that she wanted to participate. As an active participant in other fundraising walks, Ashley decided to embark on the Komen 3-Day to not only raise money for breast cancer research, but to also enjoy the personal accomplishment of walking 60 miles.  

Since signing up, she’s found the Pink Bubble to be a tremendously supportive community as she copes with both breast and ovarian cancer. “The Pink Bubble makes me feel not alone, supported and has helped me identify things I was concerned about physically through treatment,” she shared. In the meantime, she can’t wait to experience the 2024 San Diego 3-Day among likeminded people who are committed to ending breast cancer forever! 

Youth Corps Fundraising Ideas!

Fun, creative, inclusive, forward-thinking, altruistic; Youth Corps, we’re talking about you!  

You are an integral part of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®, bringing fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and an unmatched enthusiasm for making a difference. Whether this is your first Komen 3-Day as Youth Corps or you’re a returning veteran, we need your help to continue the fight against breast cancer. With your innovation and determination to leave a positive mark on this world, we’re confident that the cures for breast cancer are just around the corner. Not only does your fundraising collect money for research and patient care, but it puts you in the powerful position to influence your peers. Remember, it is going to take all of us to end this disease and we need your help! 

If you don’t know where to begin, take a deep breath and remember that you’re already changing lives just by showing up! So, let’s have some fun with fundraising and turn anything you love into an opportunity to raise money and advocate for the breast cancer cause. Unlike previous generations, you thrive in the digital world having grown up with the internet and social media as everyday essentials. As you continue your fundraising for the 3-Day®, why not use these skills to go beyond the boundaries?  

Here are some fun ideas to get you inspired!

HARNESS THE POWER OF POP CULTURE — From Taylor Swift to Naruto, the opportunities are endless! Get in your fundraising era by making and selling friendship bracelets. Host an anime viewing party or a trivia night where everyone brings a donation. Get creative and have fun with it! 

UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA — TikTok; ever heard of it? With your parents’ permission, share why you’re participating in the 3-Day and ask for donations. You can also do a challenge, where for every $10 raised, you learn a new dance or eat a bite of an onion. Want to kick it up a notch? Go to the mall with a parent or guardian and ask them to record while you share your story and ask people to donate. At the end of the video, share how much you raised and how much more you need to raise until you reach your goal!  

INCORPORATE SPORTS — If you’re on a sports team, this is the perfect place for a fundraiser with assistance from your coaches and parents! At your next game or meet, host a “pink out” where the proceeds from tickets and concessions go to your 3-Day fundraising account. Advertise with pink flyers that contain a brief statement speaking to your participation in the 3-Day Youth Corps. Maybe your team can wear a pink accessory in solidarity with the breast cancer cause.  

COLLABORATE WITH SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS — There are so many organizations throughout every school district that are always looking to contribute to a good cause. Many organizations such as musical theater and the PTA already host events, so ask to hold a concession stand or raffle entirely for 3-Day donations. You’ll be surprised by how many people will want to help! 

SHOWCASE YOUR TALENTS — If you’re an artist, dancer, or have another special skill, use it! Sell crafts at a farmers’ market or host a paint party with friends, partner with your dance studio to hold a special donation-based class, or anything else that showcases your talents.  

Regardless of how you choose to fundraise, remember that every dollar makes a difference. You are unstoppable and by putting yourself out there to ask for donations, you’re helping to create a world that is free from breast cancer. We can’t wait to see you rock yellow in the Pink Bubble!