Tag Archives: new england 3-day walk

Youth Corps Rock Star: Rosie from the New England 3-Day

Our 3-Day Youth Corps are a truly special group of young people. They work so hard during our 3-Day weekends to support both walkers and crew members, and that doesn’t even include all the work they do throughout the year to fundraise for the 3-Day. We are honored to have all of them as a part of our pink bubble.

One amazing new addition to our Youth Corps is Rosie Warfield, who raised nearly $5,000 as a member of the New England 3-Day this year. She fundraised tirelessly, posting videos on social media and holding a fundraising paint night for the 3-Day.

Rosie’s paternal grandmother died of breast cancer when she was only 12. Since then, Rosie and her whole family has increased their dedication to Susan G. Komen. That dedication came to fruition this year on the New England 3-Day.

We talked to Rosie and her mom Maggie about what the 3-Day means to their family and even got some fundraising tips from Rosie!

Tell us about your family’s connection with the 3-Day.

Maggie: My mother and I did our first Boston 3-Day in the summer of 2004. Rosie was only 15 months old. That previous December, my mom’s best friend Madelyn had passed away from a recurrence of breast cancer and while she was dying, my mom got a breast cancer diagnosis.

This is how we got involved! In the ten years that the 3-Day was in Boston, my mom and I walked twice and then crewed the remainder of the years. Rosie always wanted to be part of the Youth Corps in New England but didn’t have the chance until this year.

Rosie’s “why” for raising money is so BIG to her because breast cancer has affected both of her grandmothers.

What are some of your best fundraising tips?

Maggie: Rosie performed Live Videos on my Facebook page to entice my friends to donate. In person, she was passionate in fundraising for the cures! She connected with a friend of mine who offered to host a paint night for her, too. She then contacted her friends, and we posted more on social media.

Rosie: I set up an event on Facebook to advertise my paint night and invited all my friends. The woman that offered to do this gave over 50% of the paint night proceeds to the 3-Day. I also asked for raffle items from friends and family and received a few items to raffle off.

I sold raffle tickets to people that could not attend the fundraiser. I filled out their tickets and placed them in the buckets.

I also found a venue to have this paint night and the woman who owned the place sold all of her jewelry for $7 apiece and 100% of the proceeds went to the cause. It was a very successful and fun event!

What’s your advice for first-time Youth Corps members?

Rosie: My advice is to set lofty goals and use your voice! Most adults won’t say no to kids raising money for this cause! Passion for the cause truly brings the money in the door! I try to keep the 3-Day spirit alive in many ways. During the month of October, I wear something pink every single day. Many teachers and students have asked me about it, and I told them it was for breast cancer awareness.

What are some of Rosie’s best memories from the 3-Day?

Maggie and Rosie: One of the most impactful moments for her was when she reached the finish line, and all of the walkers were coming in. With all the energy they had to spare, the whole Youth Corps cheered them on across the finish line.

She loved walking walkers across the bridge near the Boston Children’s Museum towards the end of the weekend. She also loved getting to know them and chatting with them.

Her favorite cheer was the Betty Crocker one and “No skates, no scooters, we’re walking for our hooters!”

Maggie: Rosie loved the 3-Day and her energy and enthusiasm was contagious! She was befriended by a group of walkers who simply adored her. She truly believes that everyone deserves a lifetime. She was so emotional when she went into the remembrance tent. She told me after that breast cancer has taken way too many women. She will keep fighting for a cure. Rosie puts her heart and soul into whatever she does.

What does “commitment” mean to Rosie and your family?

Maggie: Commitment to Rosie and our family means never giving up in the face of adversity. We are committed to a life without breast cancer! She always loved her quiet one-on-one time with her grandmother Warfield watching TV and cuddling. She also loved the trips we took with Grandma Warfield even when she was battling cancer. She loves spending time with her Grammy especially walking around shopping, going to theater, or just plain hanging with Grammy.

We are honored to have giving and committed children like Rosie in our Youth Corps family. Thank you to everyone who has served, or will continue to serve on the Youth Corps. You are the sunshine in our 3-Day world!

2019 New England 3-Day Wrap-Up

We returned to New England with a splash this past weekend and could not have asked for a better three days on the East Coast! From Fenway to Boston Commons to the Freedom Trail and beyond, this weekend was one for the books.

Our journey began on Friday morning at our host hotel, the Revere Hotel Boston Common, with a special Opening Ceremony complete with stories from local walkers. Our survivors, and those living with breast cancer, were also honored before they led us out of the hotel and into the morning sunshine.

Our walk began through Boston Common and the historic Beacon Hill neighborhood, which gave walkers a real taste of the history of the city’s architecture and environment. Everyone loved both the natural calm of the Common as well as the cobblestones and homes in Beacon Hill. From there, we entered Cambridge, passing through Riverbend and North Point parks before settling in for lunch.

The weather stayed cool for our entire first day, giving walkers great weather to make quick work of a 20-mile day! After lunch, they passed the USS Constitution (or Old Ironsides to the locals) and the Bunker Hill Monument, both of which were excellent photo opportunities as well as being peeks into the history of the city.

Before being welcomed back to our hotel camp by our amazing crew team, walkers passed L Street Tavern, which many recognized from the movie Good Will Hunting. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful Day One! 3-Day BINGO, and the much-loved Bank of America massage chairs, awaited walkers and Crew at Friday’s camp. After that, it was straight to sleep in the comfy hotel beds to be well-rested for Day Two.

Saturday dawned with bright and beautiful fall weather, perfect for another day of walking! The morning was also jam packed with historical sites, including Trinity Church, Old South Church and the Boston Public Library…all in the first mile of walking! From there, we followed the Boston Marathon route in reverse, and walkers had fun celebrating “crossing the finish line” a little early in the weekend.

From there, we walked through Brookline and Brighton before arriving at our halfway celebration at lunch. Walkers lounged on the Mohawk pink mats before jumping up to dance in our celebration flash mob with Mark as Bon Jovi blared across our lunch site.

The second half of the day began with wide smiles leftover from lunch. We headed back into Boston proper, getting more city views before taking the Commonwealth Mall path back to our hotel. The shady tree-lined avenue gave relaxing shade and a respite from the hustle and bustle of downtown.

When our last walker arrived back at camp, we began our emotional Honor Ceremony and saluted those who inspire and motivate us to commit three days, year after year. We walk for them, and this ceremony celebrated that commitment. Tears were shed, hugs were shared, and we went to bed feeling fulfilled and ready to take on Day Three.

Sunday was our sunniest and warmest day yet for the weekend! The day began with a walk-through the Boston Public Garden and a stop by Cheers, the bar that inspired the titular beloved TV show. It wasn’t open yet, but walkers loved stopping for a photo!

They also posed outside Fenway Park, and declared their allegiance to home teams from across the country. We missed the game that day, but in honor of New England, 3-Dayers cheered on the Red Sox in spirit.

After Fenway, we walked through Brookline and Jamaica Plain before making our way back into the Boston city limits. We passed under the Chinatown Gate and over the Charles River, even passing the site of the Boston Tea Party. Just one more historical landmark in a weekend full of them!

Our walk ended at the Lawn on D, with lots of space for friends and family to come celebrate this amazing accomplishment. Our last walkers began our Closing Ceremony with excitement, which continued as our Crew entered the ceremony area. Then, shoes were raised to honor the strength of our survivor community, and for those living with breast cancer. They are the reason we will continue to walk, and to fundraise, for a world without breast cancer.

And fundraise we did! The 1,100 walkers and 200 crew members of the New England 3-Day raised an amazing $2.9 million in the fight against breast cancer. That’s an accomplishment worth celebrating! As we danced and soaked in the moment, many walkers already registered to return to the New England 3-Day in 2020. They know that the work is not done. And though our weekend has ended, we will not stop here. We will never quit.

Meet Your New England 3-Day Coaches

Coaches Tisho, Meredith and Sharyn

We’re back from the Labor Day weekend with a burst of excitement…because we’re heading to the East Coast for the New England 3-Day, which starts tomorrow! We have an amazing route planned for 3 days of fun and family, and no one is more excited to welcome you to the Pink Bubble than your New England 3-Day Coaches! If you haven’t met them yet, you soon will. But before we all pack our bags, we wanted to introduce you to the team who has been preparing for this weekend for more than a year.

Get ready to meet Coaches Tisho, Sharyn and Gina, along with our Event Production Manager Meredith!

Meredith, who created our amazing route, “is dedicated to her job and her responsibilities like no one else” Coach Sharyn knows, because they used to volunteer together at Get Started Meetings.

That may be because Coach Sharyn has been a long-time 3-Day advocate and inspiration. She is “passionate about this cause and truly invested in the spirit of the 3-Day,” according to Coach Gina. Coach Sharyn is a newer addition to the team, but Coach Gina loves how Sharyn “ensures our walkers know her personally and enjoy every step of the 3-Day.”

Gina knows just how much the personal touch can make a difference. As a breast cancer survivor, she is the epitome of dedication, and Coach Tisho says she also “has this amazing strength and resiliency that you don’t immediately expect from that sweet smile.” Coach Gina works tirelessly with our Crew and volunteers to bring all kinds of spirit to our new 3-Day location.

Philly walkers will know full well how Coach Tisho knows her job inside and out. She helps walkers, and her fellow coaches like Sharyn, to “answer the tough questions and is always perfectly professional in her responses.” Plus, she “gives her all (and then some!) to make sure our walkers are supported, loved and successful in their 3-Day journey,” according to Coach Gina.

Coach Gina (left)

You could not ask for a more dedicated and excited group of women to support you during your 60-mile weekend. And what a weekend it will be! There is so much to look forward to on the New England 3-Day route, and the coaches have their favorite spots:

  • Seeing every part of the city of Boston. From heading north to Bunker Hill, west to Cambridge & Newton, south to Jamaica Plain and east towards Castle Island! We will take you through the whole community!
  • The Cambridge Graffiti Wall is the only place in the greater Boston area where graffiti artists can paint without fear of being arrested. Not only is the art interesting but the alley itself with its beautifully colored roof is just visually stunning.
  • The Boston Public Gardens with all the natural beauty and the Swan Boats.
  • The historic sites in the Charlestown community.
  • The Seaport District. We get to walk along waterfront for parts of all three days!
  • The Lawn on D, where our Finish Line Festival takes place, is a super cool venue that just invites celebration and fun!

You can also look forward to experiencing our hotel camp, and new camp programs. Coach Tisho can’t wait for some of her past Philadelphia walkers to be a part of the hotel experience again. She recommends really relishing in all the amenities that our host hotels have to offer.

In addition to that, all of your coaches really want everyone to take their time and enjoy the whole 3-Day weekend. When we asked them to share advice for participants, they all said almost the same thing:

  • “Don’t just rush through your day and the task” ahead, whether that’s walking, setting up a pit stop, handing out legacy pins in camp or victory shirts at the Finish Line Festival. These are three days you will never get back and they are magical. Take time to really look around at all that is happening and the incredible impact we are making.” – Coach Tisho
  • “Savor the moments, every step, each interaction, because as the saying goes, ‘It’s the little moments that make life big.’” – Coach Gina
  • “Don’t hurry through the day. Enjoy the people you meet along the way. Ask questions of the solo walkers you find yourself beside and ask them their story and always, always approach a stranger with a smile!” – Coach Sharyn

Thanks to your coaches, you’ll be able to enjoy and celebrate our return to New England with an amazing weekend of 3-Day fun. What are you most looking forward to for this weekend? Tell us in the comments! It will be here before you know it!