When Carl B. first signed up for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® in 2006, he had a deeply personal reason for participating. Nearly two decades later, he’s still showing up, even though the circumstances that first brought him to the event have changed. 

“I did my first 3-Day in Boston two years after my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, but when we separated, I questioned if this was still my mission,” Carl said.  

As he thought about that question, he found out that Teresa, a friend he had met through the 3-Day community, had passed away. Seeing her last Facebook post felt like a sign. 

“She left this poignant last Facebook post. I still go back and look at it for inspiration every so often. It’s still there, 12 years later,” Carl said. “She told her friends and family about hospice and about trying to keep her comfortable, and she ended it with, ‘I pray for better treatments.’” 

Carl’s artwork inspired by the 3-Day.

Carl said Teresa’s words reminded him that the mission was bigger than his own story. 

“I haven’t looked back since,” he said.  

Over the years, his connection with the 3-Day community has only grown stronger. 

“After I got divorced, I had a whole new social circle enter my life. And Lord, probably 15% of them are affected by breast cancer and a few of them have died,” Carl said.  “It’s such a huge factor in my life, and some of my best friends in the world are people I’ve met on the 3-Day. I just can’t imagine not doing it.” 

To honor his friends who have died from breast cancer, many of whom he met through the 3-Day, Carl has a band of pink ribbons tattooed around his arm.  

Now in his early 60s, Carl is looking forward to walking his 40th 3-Day at the Tampa Bay event in 2027. 

“I think that everybody needs to do something to make the world a better place,” Carl said. “So, I’ve been doing this for the past 20 plus years and I really enjoy it.”

Carl said being immersed in the Pink Bubble has also encouraged him to keep a closer eye on his own health. 

“I do check myself and I try to be aware of everything going on with my body,” he said. “I think that’s really the best way to detect something early.”