Tag Archives: Milestone Award

New England Milestone Award: Mary Anne W.

Meet Mary Anne W., our 2024 New England 3-Day Milestone Award Winner!   

Mary Anne has walked 22 times in 20 years, raising a lifetime total of more than $147,000. This year, she walks for her dental hygienist, Tracy, a three-year breast cancer survivor. 

What was your inspiration to participate in your first Susan G. Komen 3-Day®?  

A co-worker who I regularly walked with gave me the information to register. 

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

My first 3-Day walk was in 1998, and then [I] kept registering when Komen took over in 2003. I have walked at least one event each year since. The past two years, I have walked two 3-Day events and will do so this year, too. So, New England will be walk 23 of the Komen 3-Day, then later number 24 in Dallas/Fort Worth. 

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

My secret to fundraising is mailing letters that include the donation form [and] a stamped envelope to the bank starting in mid-April. I mail everyone I have ever known in my life. Yep, stamps are expensive, but my donors love getting my letters, which include a photo and story of someone I know personally who has had breast cancer. This year I am walking for Tracy, my dental hygienist. She is 51, and a 3-year survivor. My letter and a photo of Tracy are below. 

“I’m on the road again this year with my 23rd 3-Day. This time I am walking to honor Tracy, my dental hygienist and a 3-year breast cancer survivor. Here is her breast cancer story: 

‘I moved from Nebraska to Arizona in June 2021 so excited to start working right away at a Prescott, AZ dental office as a Dental Hygienist. Just one month later I was diagnosed with Stage 2B breast cancer with lymph node involvement and very high in Estrogen. A lumpectomy was performed in September and a port was placed in November of that year. A/C “Red Devil” chemotherapy started in December, every other week for 2 months, followed by a less potent chemotherapy which occurred weekly for three months. I then got to take a break for a couple months to regain some strength before the Radiation Oncologist needed 15 chest x-rays and radiation continued every morning Monday through Friday for 18 weeks. Next, it was a challenge to find the right combination of hormone blockers that didn’t make my muscles and bones ache. I now get acupuncture and massages weekly to help with the neuropathy in my feet. I just recently started to feel less fatigued, now I’m able to go on walks and I hope to start a workout routine again soon. 

I’m so lucky that I have a job that I was able to continue to work while going through cancer treatment. 

During all my treatments my husband cooked, cleaned and shopped so I could rest, I am so lucky to have him, my family, friends and patients that have kept me positive throughout my cancer journey.’  

Tracy’s journey with this disease will hopefully inspire those you know to take breast health seriously and get your annual mammograms, etc. I am hoping you will donate today to my fundraising using the enclosed donation form and envelope addressed to the lockbox in Dallas. If you prefer to donate online, go to The3Day.org, type my name and choose the donation amount. 

Thank you for continuing to care about breast cancer and finding the cures.” 

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

The event is three days of walking and meeting new faces who may wind up being a very good friend. 

What’s a fun fact about you?  

I am 80 years old and played competitive tennis from age 4 to 70. I have been playing pickleball since January and, with my tennis background, have picked up the sport easily. I live in a community that has many retired people who also play the game, [so I have made] lots of new friends with this sport. I have also been an active YMCA member since age 4 [and] have been married to Tom for 60 years. I do cardio classes 5 days a week, pickleball 4 days, and walk 5 miles a day. 

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

Start your fundraising as early as possible, train, and be kind always. 

2022 San Diego 3-Day Milestone Award Winner

Congratulations to our 2022 San Diego 3-Day Milestone Award Winner Gemma G.! Gemma has participated in 13 3-Days over 10 years and has raised over $224,000 in the fight against breast cancer. We asked Gemma a few questions about her experience with the 3-Day: 

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

The first time I heard about the 3-Day was through a commercial. I remember someone on the commercial saying something like, “I didn’t think I could do it. I didn’t think I could walk 60 miles” and my eyes opened up to this; my heart was in it, and here I am today! My mom said it was meant to be, and here I am, still putting one foot in front of the other. 

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

I have made so many friends, and my job isn’t done yet. I have lost many friends and family to cancer and I want to help make a difference. 

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

Have fun and train! 

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

It isn’t easy, but raising the money takes more than just myself. The small community I live in is still behind me 110%. Their support is amazing! I might “walk the walk,” but without my family, friends and continued support of my community, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do.  

Coach Staci shared a brief testimonial about Gemma: 

“Gemma is the epitome of selflessness. Over the years, she has done it all: from organizing a local run/walk to recycling. In the process she has found a way to inspire her very small community to rally behind her 110%. Gemma’s success has become her community’s passion and she is humbled by their outpouring of support.” 

Congratulations, Gemma, and thank you for your dedication to the 3-Day! 

2022 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day Milestone Award Winner

If you’ve ever participated in a Susan G. Komen 3-Day event, you’ve probably seen or talked to Jennifer S. Participating in 28 events over eight years, Jennifer has raised more than $91,000 to date! We talked to Jennifer about what the 3-Day means to her and even got a testimonial from her team, Pink Soles in Motion. 

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

My girlfriend, who had walked before, suggested that we walk after I finished my treatment. I was excited to show cancer that it was not the boss of me ? it could not dictate how I would live! I went after it, determined to be successful; to raise the money and walk all 60 miles. Whew! It changed me forever. 

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

I walk because I can’t walk away. That is true and there is so much more. A few hours into my first walk, I discovered that it was not about me at all, it was so much bigger. Everyone there had a story, a compelling reason for their participation, and I was overwhelmed, inspired and committed. Then, oh my heart, the young women I see in the survivor circle. This is so wrong; young women should not have to make these hard decisions. 

Somehow, once you are part of this world, you tend to meet people who are also part of this world. Do you know what I mean? I am reminded all the time of the importance of the money we raise. I am not a scientist or a doctor, but I can raise money.  

Finally, being part of our community fills my bucket. The joy, kindness and shared higher purpose of our walkers, crew and volunteers lifts me up. I believe it’s the world the way it should be, could be. 

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

I wish I had a secret :). I have been so fortunate; blessed really by people who have jumped in to help, and some who contribute every year. I am pretty much fundraising ALL the time; it might be considered an obsession. I have learned how to ask. I use the Facebook fundraiser and ask for my birthday, Christmas and of course October ? Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I tell everyone I meet what I am doing, ask them to join me and ask for a donation. I do tithe to myself, a little bit each month. I sell filled Easter eggs every year and hide them for an extra charge. Our team has a golf tournament, sells wreaths at the holidays and tamales for Christmas. I was blessed to have a couple of matchers help me this year which made a huge difference.  

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

Oh gosh. Train; train in the shoes, socks, clothes and pack you intend to use for the event. Resist the temptation to purchase something new the night or the week before. Find some veteran walkers and pick their brains. Then, relax and enjoy the event. It’s 60 miles whether you walk the whole way or ride in the sweep vans a bit. There is no judgement on the 3-Day. 

What’s a fun fact about you? 

My fun fact is that I learned to ice skate at the ripe old age of 44 and earned a gold medal in a senior competition. 

Jennifer’s team, Pink Soles in Motion, provided a brief testimonial about her: 

“Everyone knows Jennifer because she is a cheerleader, a motivator, and a supporter and because Pink Soles in Motion has named her our unofficial 3-Day ambassador. Jennifer’s dedication to the 3-Day and Pink Soles in Motion has helped raise awareness for the cause and made the Pink Bubble an even better place to be. We wouldn’t be surprised if she bleeds pink! So, for a good time…walk with Jennifer!! Congratulations Jennifer! We love you.” 

Congratulations, Jennifer, on receiving this award, and for all of the accomplishments you’ve achieved from funds raised to the amount of years participated in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day! Stay tuned for our last 2022 Milestone Award Winner Blog for the San Diego 3-Day and read about our other Milestone Award Winners here.