Congratulations to the 2017 Seattle 3-Day Local Impact Award Winner

For the 2017 Susan G. Komen 3-Day® season, we’re honored to be featuring the Local Impact Award. This award is being given to participants who have been instrumental in strengthening the 3-Day® community throughout the year. Local Impact Award honorees have gone above and beyond in their efforts leading training walks, attending 3-Day community events. They have also supported the 3-Day staff year-round at meet-ups and workshops, and in general, been making a difference by building lasting relationships and showing commitment to the 3-Day in all they do.

Please join us in congratulating the 2017 Seattle 3-Day Local Impact Award Winner, Judy Kent.

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All those that know her love and support Judy, including fellow participant, Susan Grasdahl.

“Judy is amazing, we are so lucky to have her at Camp! Each year brings change and some challenges to be met, Judy always meets it with “we got this” and that approach has become our motto! Judy leads with kindness, enthusiasm, dedication, hard work and of course her quick wit! Be it rain , heat , wind, concerts, bike races or sprinklers going off at dawn… no worries, Judy’s got this! She is an inspiration to us all!”

Her sister in law, Maryann O’Donnell, echoes that praise! She says Judy has been a dedicated 3-Dayer since 2002.

“She was preparing to celebrate her 50th birthday and wanted to do something to celebrate her 50 years of being relatively healthy. She called me with the idea of us walking the 3-Day in Seattle. We prepared by raising money, we trained on separate coasts (since I live in Virginia) and we anxiously arrived with two water bottles in tow, for that first event. What an emotional roller-coaster that was for both of us!

“We each brought different strengths and personalities to that walk. I am the emotional one, often high strung but always with a smile on my face. Judy …is an accountant…she sees an issue…analyzes it…and executes a solution. One could say she perseveres until the job is complete, a trait that got us through that first 60 miles and has continued with her throughout the next 15 plus events.

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O’Donnell continues, “Judy was proud to be a part of the 3-Day when Komen took over the event. She first worked on the Food Service crew, then quickly became the Food Service captain until a few years ago, when she became the Camp senior captain. In the off season, she fundraised, helped others with training walks, sewed chef hats, sewed pink aprons, helped organize people to get involved and even badgered her high school friends to fly from California to be on her crew. She has gone above and beyond what she had wanted to accomplish on that first walk in 2002. I am thrilled to be a part of this recognition of her accomplishments for the 3-Day. I know she is really a very humble person who doesn’t want to be in the limelight, but is so deserving of this award.”

After all that praise, we had to hear from Judy herself! When we asked her these questions, she didn’t know she would soon be selected as our winner!

What was your inspiration to do your first 3-Day?

I was prodded into doing the event in 2002 (then with Avon) by my sister-in-law Maryann O’Donnell, who also still works on the crew. I was turning 50 years old and needed a physical challenge. Also, it was the time in my life to start “giving back.” Breast cancer poses such a threat to women as we get older and I wanted to get out in front of it doing my part to make diagnosis, treatment and survival rates better.

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What has brought you back to the 3-Day year after year?

I absolutely love the camaraderie that exists among the new and veteran crew members. We all want to help the walkers have the best experience ever.

What is the secret to your 3-Day fundraising success?

The most important thing about fundraising is: “Don’t be afraid to ask everyone and anyone!” Over the years, I have heard so many stories from walkers about how pleasantly surprised they were by the support they received when they just had the courage to ask for donations.

What is your best advice to anyone walking the 3-Day?

Train, train, train! Make sure you train carrying a full water bottle either in a waist of back pack. Make sure you take a long walk wearing the clothes you plan on wearing on event so you can check for chafing, wicking, etc. Also, please make sure you have the shoes and socks that work best for your feet.

What are 3 fun facts about you?

This year our family will have 3 generations on event. My niece, Liz Matthews, is captain of Traffic control and her daughter, Zoey, is serving with the Youth Corps
My husband and I make our own wine and beer as a hobby, and we work at a winery in Woodinville.
I still use a “dumb” phone – I can only talk and text with my phone!

What are the most important lessons you’ve learned on the 3-Day?

No matter tired I am, the walkers are even more tired.
Always be ready and available to listen. It may be a walker with a problem or complaint (or maybe even a rave review), a crew member with a question or a staff member with a request. Listen carefully and then do your best to solve the problem.
For Seattle, always bring rain gear.

Congratulations to the 2017 Michigan 3-Day Local Impact Award Winner, Dan Sinclair

For the 2017 Susan G. Komen 3-Day® season, we’re pleased to be featuring the Local Impact Award. This award is being given to participants who have been instrumental in strengthening the 3-Day® community throughout the year. Local Impact Award honorees have gone above and beyond in their efforts leading training walks, attending 3-Day community events, supporting the 3-Day staff year-round at meet-ups and workshops, and in general, making a difference by building lasting relationships and showing commitment to the 3-Day in all they do.

Please join us in congratulating the 2017 Michigan 3-Day Local Impact Award Winner, Dan Sinclair.

“My first ever 3-Day was in 2002 when I was a student of Massage Therapy and I needed 50 hours of civic volunteer hours to complete that part of my training at school. And I was told that I could complete all that time in a single weekend. Little did I know how much that weekend would impact my life. When the 3-Day returned to Michigan in 2004, I was ready! Only to find out that they no longer used a massage therapy team for the walkers. While the crew coordinator was explaining this to me he noticed I was wearing a “Harley” tee shirt and asked if I rode? I explained I’d been on motorcycles most my life and his reply was “Have I got a deal for you”. In 2005 my daughter was a walker and I was on crew. She quickly introduced me to her walking friends and suddenly, I had a 3-Day family and was given the moniker of their “3-Day Dad” and over the years that family has taken a special meaning to my life. In 15 years, I went from not knowing anyone that has had breast cancer to becoming close friends with so many people who live with it daily and then losing a lifelong friend to this monster. At age 60 I did my first walk in Denver with some of my Michigan Crew members and discovered traveling and seeing the country through PINK shaded glasses is one fine way to live. So now I crew everywhere I can and walk at one event each year.

My passion is the water, boating, swimming, scuba diving or just plain sitting at the beach. I taught safe boating classes during the Michigan winters and was off to the marina in the spring. I was fortunate enough to have a wife that shared my passion for boating and allowed me to follow my dream. In 1986, we came across “Luv-It”, a boat big enough for the family to be comfortable on and this year we are enjoying our 31^st season on board her.

Being retired Navy, I’ve seen parts of the world that most people are not fortunate enough to witness first hand, some spectacular, some downright devastating and everything in between. So, when I came across the 3-Day Community, I thought, “If only the world could be like this”.

So, year after year I come back and add my “two cents” in hopes that it makes someone somewhere take their mind off their troubles, their sickness, their pain and smile just a little bit…

There is a cure out there and together we will find it.”

What do some of Dan’s friends have to say about him?

“I have had the absolute privilege of working, and walking, side by side with Dan for 14 years now. I’ve witnessed first hand the impact he has had not only here in Michigan but in the other event cities as well. He is ever present and always smiling. His willingness to help fellow crew and walkers knows no bounds. It is not uncommon to find him using his massage therapist skills to help walkers stretch and work out kinks, sometimes right on the side of the road. That always makes for a hilarious double take when one of the Medical crews drives by! He makes a point of getting to know new faces, making them feel welcome and sharing his story. Whether it is 30 seconds at an intersection or 30 minutes in the dining tent, you will always feel like you’re an old friend!” – Jenn Frederick

“I don’t know a 3-Day withOUT Dan – He took me under his wing at the opening ceremony of my very first 3-Day, many many years ago. Made me feel welcome as a rookie route safety. And has taught me everything I know about crewing and captaining.

He is our 3-Day Dad (I’m probably not the only one who will say this)

Best. Hugs. Ever!

Passionate. Caring.

A mentor. A role model.

A shoulder to cry on

A friend to laugh with

A great storyteller

Loved by MANY!” – Jeanette Jones

Hosting an Introductory Team Meeting

So you’ve formed a 3-Day team. You’ve recruited your team members. Congrats! Now that you have people who are interested in walking with you, you need to get everyone in the same place so your team can meet, brainstorm, plan, and have fun!

It’s time to host your introductory team meeting. But how?

Photo via Eric Rothermel

Pick a date. And have a back-up date.

With today’s crazy schedules and conflicting calendars, it can be tough to find a time that works for every one of your team members. Do your best to find a good date, but don’t make yourself crazy. If there are a few people who can’t make it, set up a back-up time so they can still be introduced to the 3-Day. Even if it’s one-on-one over coffee, or with a smaller group, it’s important to make sure everyone feels welcome.

Use your experts.

If you or someone else on your team has walked before, tap them for knowledge. Meet with them beforehand to pull sample donor letters, talk about packing lists, and brainstorm fundraising ideas. That way, when you meet with the larger group, you’ll already have some talking points set.

Photo via Claudia Viloria

Create a comfortable space.

When the big day comes, hold the meeting in your kitchen, family room, or other welcoming space. You want first time walkers or team members who might not know everyone to feel like they are entering a safe space where they can speak their minds. Also, everyone loves food, so have a variety of snacks, desserts and drinks ready for the choosing. Make sure everything can be eaten without utensils, and is ideally bite-sized, so people can chat and dine at the same time.

Have a plan.

Before your meeting starts, decide what you want to accomplish. Do you just want to give people the chance to meet and share why they walk? Would you like to plan your first team fundraising event? Should people come with a draft of their donor letter? Make sure your guests know the goal in advance so they can do any needed preparation.

Photo via Glenn Carstons Peters

Prepare your answers.

There are some questions you know people are going to ask, especially if they’re first time walkers. Luckily, we have already answered many of them for you! Take a look at our FAQ to have talking points ready, share information about meetings and events in your area so your team can bond with others, and print out these infographics about the 3-Day for team members to keep handy. Check out all of the available resources at The3Day.org/Teams.

The more you have set up in advance, the easier it will be for the meeting to flow naturally and accomplish a lot.

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Get “active” with activities!

Get your team moving and thinking by incorporating fun activities that promote fundraising. Hang a tablecloth to make an at-home photo booth and take selfies with print outs of these fundraising progress graphics for them to post on social media. You can also host a “How to Write Fundraising Letters” workshop with samples, or color the 3-Day coloring page (above).

Have a take away.

Even though this is a “meeting,” that doesn’t mean it has to feel formal. Give each team member a fun take away, along with any pertinent information, so they can leave with something to remind them of their first team gathering. You can use the craft and treat ideas on our Creative Fundraising Pinterest page to make gifts for your team, then make extras to use for your own fundraising. These can also get others’ creative juices flowing for their own future fundraising endeavors.