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 Philadelphia 3-Day Local Impact Award Winner, Stephanie Hartman.

This is her 7th year as Captain of the Youth Corps and 12th year participating in the 3Day. She has raised more than $1,400 this year!

Where does she get all her 3-Day spirit? Let’s hear from Steph! 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 began participating in the 3-Day in memory of my mother.  I have been involved with the Race for the Cure since I was 8 years old (in Philadelphia, in Pittsburgh during college, and recently DC).  When I heard about the 3Day, I knew it was a way for me to do more and honor my mother’s death.

My mother was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer at the age of 33. She had a mastectomy after a mass was found.  She was 2 months pregnant with me. Further scans showed the cancer had spread throughout her body including her vertebrae, skull, and sternum.  She began chemotherapy when she was 10.5 weeks pregnant.  At 13 weeks pregnant, she had her ovaries removed after metastatic tumor deposits were found. She continued treatment for the duration of the pregnancy.  I was born premature but healthy.

At the young age of 36, my mother’s battle with breast cancer ended.  I was only 2 years old.  My mother left behind her loving husband (my father) and 6 children (ages 2-16).

My first inspiration was for my mother, my sisters, my nieces, and myself.

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

I have many reasons for coming back year after year. Obviously, my initial reasons: to honor my mother and because I don’t believe any child should grow up without a mother, but as I have participated over the past 11 years, I have gained more and more reasons.

The 3-Day has brought me a 2^nd family. When I first started the 3-Day, I thought breast cancer automatically meant death. I was afraid for myself and my family, and thought it was an inevitable future. Because I was so young when my mother died, I didn’t see her struggles or her strength as she went through treatment and still raised my siblings and I. Through the 3-Day, I have met so many strong survivors and fighters and I have been touched by so many stories.

My most recent reason is my 6-year-old family! 😉 I became involved with the youth corps in 2011, the inaugural year in Philly.  Growing up without a mother, I immediately wanted to be involved with the youth corps to help support youth.  Through the youth, we have developed a very close knit family.  Since 2011, we have had 96 different yc members in Philadelphia.  Growing up, we never talked about my mom’s cancer or death.  I often felt alone in the grief of the loss.  I never want any of these youths to feel alone.  I keep in contact with every member.  We have reunions and get-togethers every year. These youths and their families keep me coming back year after year.  I have made bonds with the families, and have added more and more reasons to my list of fighters, survivors, and angels.

Of these 96 youth, 20 have walked AT LEAST 1 event, 7 have crewed including 5 that have served as leaders on the youth corps, and a handful that have come to camp to volunteer as camp angels.

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

I have been very fortunate to have family and friends support me through donations over the past 11 years. Most of my most successful have been group fundraisers with the youth corps. We have held coin drops, beef and beers, set up tables at craft fairs, and most recently have helped to run a baseball invitational.  My nephews are members of a travel team in Towamencin, PA. The Towamencin Travel Baseball teams host a breast cancer invitational to raise money for the cause. Over the past few years, the youth corps has been very fortunate to help at the event by gathering raffle baskets before the event and by selling raffle tickets, 50/50 tickets, and merchandise at the event.

As a team, we surpassed the $150,000-mark last year. The youth corps has been very creative with their fundraising. They have organized triathlons, bike races, dance classes, self-defense classes, and in school fundraisers.

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

Before event: Train. Train. Then train some more.  (I have not trained for any of my walks. I said I was going to and have advised other too, but “I’m a runner so I don’t have to.” Haha… Quickly did I learn that running and walking are not the same thing at all!)

On event: Have fun! You have already done the hard part. You have already raised over $2300…. This weekend is a celebration! Make lots of connections with others. Talk to them – tell them your story and ask for their story. Don’t hurt yourself trying to do all 60 if your body needs a break. Crossing the finish line on Day 3 is amazing – so pace yourself and enjoy the weekend! You need to be able to walk and function at work on Monday.

After event: 1- Sign up again! J 2- Keep in touch with those you connected with. We are all family!

What’s a fun fact about you?

It may come as a surprise, but I am a demi-god molded from clay and given life by Zeus. That’s right, I am WONDER WOMAN!

Okay… so maybe I’m not Wonder Woman but I do like to think I have boundless energy and am able to save the world.

All of my favorite ‘jobs’ involve children.  Aside from my day job of inspiring and teaching middle schoolers in Philly or past jobs of social work or nannying, I constantly surround myself with children.  I am the proud aunt of 7 nephews and 3 nieces (2 of whom live in Hawaii).  You can often find me cheering them on while they play various sports, building LEGOs, or acting like a kid on some crazy adventure.

My newest amazing adventures have come at the hands of a smart and silly 4-year-old. I have been very lucky to have found a new ‘job’ in helping the love of my life raise his beautiful daughter.  (Yes, I now know every word to every song in Moana…)

It’s no wonder that I jumped at the opportunity to captain the youth corps in 2011! So, maybe I’m not Wonder Woman, but I think spending my time with all the kids in my life make my life even more special than being a demi-god.

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

Not to be afraid to open. Not to be afraid to accept help (I’m still not good at number at this!), and – We are family!

Open up: I have met so many amazing people of the years that I have come to know as family. I am one to want to help others and to hear other’s stories. I have learned to open up more and have enjoyed talking about my mother and my initial reason for doing the 3-Day.

Accept help: I am still learning. As a walker, in both Philly and Michigan, the lovely crew have made sure that I care for myself even when I have been trying to help others. J As YC Captain, I luckily have amazing leaders (and youth) on my team that have made sure I take care of myself on event.

We are family: I have met some amazing people over the years. Life is not always a straight path that can be planned for. It is often winding with crazy ups and downs, and some plateaus in between. We are a family. These amazing people you have met will be there for you through the good and bad, and you will be there for them.

On behalf of all of us walking, crewing, and supporting the Susan G. Komen 3-Day, thank you Steph. We can’t wait to see all your pink 3-Day spirit on future events!