Heather’s Story: Honoring a Loved One on Memorial Mile

Heather Bryan walks in the San Diego 3-Day in memory of her cousin-in-law, Kelly.

There’s a one-mile stretch of the Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day® that’s especially bittersweet for Heather B.—Memorial Mile.

Memorial Mile is a powerful part of every 3-Day route where walkers pass signs honoring those who have died from breast cancer. Each sign features a person’s name and a photo, placed there by loved ones who are walking in their memory. It’s both beautiful and emotional, reminding walkers exactly why they’re participating.

For Heather, that mile carries a deeply personal meaning.

“That last mile on day two is the hardest mile for me,” Heather said. “It is difficult turning the corner and seeing Kelly’s picture there on Memorial Mile.”

Road to the 3-Day

In 2014, Heather set a personal goal to participate in 14 walking events as a way to prioritize her well-being.

Around the same time, her husband’s cousins, Kelly and her sister Tracy, were thinking about walking the 3-Day in Arizona. Although they didn’t end up walking that year, they joined Heather at another breast cancer event in Central Oregon.

Shortly before the event, Kelly had to undergo a biopsy after her doctor suspected breast cancer.

“I encouraged them both to come to the event still, and they did,” Heather said.

During the walk, Kelly connected with other participants and members of the breast cancer community. Just a few days later, she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.

After Kelly’s diagnosis, Heather set a new goal: she wanted to walk in the 2015 Seattle 3-Day the following year, in her honor. Even though Kelly couldn’t be there physically, she supported Heather every step of the way.

“Throughout the walk, she and I were exchanging text messages, and she was giving me words of encouragement,” Heather recalled.

Kelly responded well to treatment and then went into remission.

“I decided to come back to the 3-Day in 2021 and walk in San Diego when her cancer had come back and it wasn’t responding to treatment,” Heather explained. “She passed in August 2022.”

That November, Heather walked for the first time in memory of Kelly at the San Diego 3-Day. She has continued to walk in her memory and placed a sign for Kelly in the Memorial Mile in 2023 and 2025. She will do so again this year.

“It was really hard that first year when I saw her smile on the Memorial Mile sign,” Heather said. “But the support from the Pink Bubble is absolutely amazing.”

That experience deepened Heather’s sense of connection to everyone honored along that mile.

“These are people’s loved ones that others are walking for,” Heather said. “I make it a point when I’m walking into camp at night to say every person’s name on every sign and recognize every person that is there.”

Heather B. and supporters at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day

Walking for Many

This year, Heather will walk her sixth 3-Day in San Diego as “Team Kelly.” Over the years, her brother has joined, and she has walked alongside other friends she met at the 3-Day.

With every event, her passion for the Pink Bubble continues to grow.

So does the list of people she walks for.

“I carry a running list of names with me on all the 3-Days, whether they are survivors or they have passed away,” Heather said. “I want to honor every one of them.”

To learn more about the 3-Day, visit the3day.org.

Kristi’s Story: Metastatic Breast Cancer and the 3-Day

Kristi T. at the 2023 Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day.

When Kristi T. heard about the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®, she was in treatment for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and searching for community.

“I thought it would be cool to walk with others who were going through a similar situation as I was, or who had a loved one or friend with a similar diagnosis,” she said.

Diagnosed in 2021 at just 37, Kristi was navigating life as a single mom while undergoing an intense treatment plan that included chemotherapy, monthly injections of pertuzumab and trastuzumab, and targeted therapies for HER2-positive MBC.

Despite everything her body was going through, Kristi was drawn to the idea of the 3-Day and wanted to be surrounded by others who understood the realities of breast cancer.

Stepping Into the 3-Day

Kristi T. was a guest speaker at the 2023 Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day.

Kristi signed up as a solo walker for the 2023 San Diego 3-Day and was asked to share her story as a guest speaker. She said she felt support every step of the way. Kristi joined other participants in Central Oregon for training walks and started building connections before the event. Once she got to San Diego, those connections grew even more.

“There were teams that I kind of clung to,” Kristi said. “I started out with some of the women from Central Oregon, but as the weekend unfolded, I met so many other amazing people.”

Initially, the thought of walking 60 miles was intimidating to Kristi, especially while undergoing treatment. She had recently started taking chemotherapy pills that caused pain and sensitivity in her hands and feet.

But her fears eased after she reached out to her 3-Day coach, who explained that sweep vans, pit stops and medical crews would be available throughout the route.

“She told me I didn’t have to walk the full 20 miles a day, and knowing there were options helped calm my nerves a lot,” Kristi said.

Another challenging aspect was the 3-Day fundraising. To help reach her goal, Kristi leaned on creativity. With help from her friends and co-workers, she hosted a Barbie-themed fashion show fundraiser, complete with Barbie and Ken outfits strutting down the runway.

Kristi T. at her Barbie-themed fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day.

“A lot of people donated, and I felt really lucky to have that support,” she said.

When the first day of the event arrived, Kristi was up for the challenge.

On Day 1, adrenaline carried Kristi forward. She said she felt “amped.” By Day 2, exhaustion and foot pain set in, but the 3-Day medical crew stepped in, wrapping her feet and bandaging her toes so she could keep going.

“They did a great job of taking care of me,” she said.

On the final stretch of the 3-Day, another surge of adrenaline kicked in.

“You’re like, ‘Okay, this is the last of it—we’re hitting the finish line,” Kristi said. “I knew my parents were going to be there; my sister and my son were waiting for me, too.”

Crossing the finish line was an emotional moment for her.

“Finishing the 3-Day gave me a new appreciation for my body—I felt more confident again,” she said.

Kristi T. at the 2023 Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day finish line.

Looking Ahead with Hope

Today, Kristi’s cancer has remained stable through daily medication and monthly bone infusions. In April 2025, she got married and said she lives each day with gratitude and optimism.

“I’ve accepted that I will have breast cancer for the rest of my life,” she said. “But seeing people with MBC who have been living with it for over 20 years is hopeful and empowering.”

Kristi said she hopes to walk the Boston 3-Day soon with her sister. To read more about Kristi’s story, visit komen.org.

Kristi T. and her family at the 2023 Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day.

Cindy’s 3-Day Milestone: A Decade of Remembrance

Cindy del Rocco and her sons at Memorial Mile at the San Diego 3-Day

This year marked a bittersweet milestone for Cindy D.—10 years of walking in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® and 10 years since losing her mother to breast cancer. For Cindy, the 3-Day is more than a fundraising walk; it’s a tribute and a way to stand up against what she calls “the beast.”

Cindy completed her first 3-Day in 2009, in honor of a friend diagnosed with breast cancer at just 42. Back then, when people asked if breast cancer ran in her family, she always answered no.

But that changed in 2015. On her parents’ 55th wedding anniversary, Cindy’s mother received the devastating news that she had metastatic breast cancer (MBC), which is the most advanced stage of the disease. The diagnosis came a little over a year after her last mammogram.

Cindy del Rocco family with her mom who died from breast cancer

“The beast had found my mom. She didn’t deserve this,” Cindy recalled. “She had dense breast tissue, and it likely wasn’t detected.”

Just five months later, on Thanksgiving morning, Cindy’s mother passed away.

This November marked 10 years since her mother’s passing, and Cindy says she misses her every day. Her mom had always been her biggest supporter, especially when it came to the 3-Day. This year, Cindy’s three sons joined her at the San Diego 3-Day to walk in their grandmother’s honor.

Cindy del Rocco and her sons at the San Diego 3-day.

“I know she and I are both so proud of these young men for stepping up to make a difference,” Cindy said.

Even after a decade of participation in the 3-Day, Cindy returns home from each event feeling the same overwhelming sense of joy. And this year was even more memorable with her sons by her side.

“The love, support and kindness from walkers, crew, police and the community — especially here in San Diego — are incredible,” Cindy added. “It’s so inspiring to be surrounded by people who may not know each other but share one mission: to end breast cancer.”

Cindy says in the future she hopes to walk the 3-Day with her granddaughter, Ella.

Cindy Del Rocco and her sons and granddaughter at the San Diego 3-Day

To learn more about the Komen 3-Day, visit the3day.org.

Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their health care provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.