Introducing the 3-Day Series Walkers – Part 2

Anyone who steps up to the challenge of participating in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® is making an incredible commitment. The months spent on fundraising strategy and execution, training plans and schedules, prepping, packing and traveling almost make it feel like the Komen 3-Day is your second job (good thing it’s a job you love!).

That’s why it’s especially remarkable when we meet a walker who makes the extraordinary decision to walk in every 3-Day® event in one year. In the past, there have been one or two walkers each year who dedicate themselves to walking the “full series,” but in 2014, we are honored to have eight amazing people taking on the full series and walking in all seven 3-Day events.

Yesterday, you met Nicole H. and Melissa, and today, we meet the two marvelous men who are walking all seven 3-Day events this year. Tomorrow, we’ll introduce you to walkers 5 and 6!

Jim H.

Jim and his dear friend Zoie, who were brought together by fate and the 3-Day

What’s your name and where are you from? – Jim Hillmann – San Jose, CA
What is your 3-Day history (how many events have you walked/crewed?) – I began walking in 2008 and have walked in 28 events so far, with 7 more planned for this year. In 2011, I walked in all 14 events, having walked in 24 events in the last three years.
How/why did you first get involved with the 3-Day? – My mom died from breast cancer in 2004 and in 2008, I realized I could continue to think it was unfair that mom had died from breast cancer or get off the sidelines and make a difference in finding a cure through my participation.
Are you part of any teams in 2014? – I am walking with Team Tiaras in Dallas.
What made you decide to do all 7 events this year? – This is the 10th anniversary of my mom’s death and I am doing it to honor her life and her courage in her fight against breast cancer.
What are your go-to fundraising strategies? – Each year I try to add a different fundraiser that will reach a different demographic so I am not always seeking funds from the same people. I also only try fundraisers that I have a passion for as I think this passion translates to one’s passion for finding a cure for breast cancer and helping others. If one is not excited about the fundraiser, many will take that to mean they are also not excited about finding a cure. I also try not to be discouraged if a fundraiser doesn’t do as well as anticipated, but determine the reason it didn’t succeed and make changes or try something else. In short, do not be discouraged but learn from the experience and move forward.
What are you looking forward to the most with your walks this year? – I’m looking forward to renewing friendships from the cities I walked in during 2011 and making new friendships with fellow walkers, crew and all our supporters. I’m also looking forward to sharing my story and hearing others as we all walk for a cure.
Is there anything that you’re nervous about? – Not really. During my first years walking, there were many unknowns that sometimes cause a few butterflies, but I have learned from many personal experiences that one only has to “lean back” and let the community support you when one has doubt, for it will be there with open arms ready to help.
What 3 words would you use to describe the 3-Day? – Life changing experience

William K.

William walking in his trademark pink kilt

What’s your name and where are you from? – William Kline, live in Seattle, WA, born in Erie, PA
What is your 3-Day history (how many events have you walked/crewed?) – I have walked in Seattle for the last 9 years and in 2012 walked Seattle and Tampa.
How/why did you first get involved with the 3-Day? – I first got involved because “I can” and did not think I had any direct connection. I soon found out that friends would open up about their connection and thus I was now connected. I have since had many instances of friends, new friends, and family members share their experience.
Are you part of any teams in 2014? – No
What made you decide to do all 7 events this year? – This being my 10th year, I wanted to stretch my commitment and seven events was a goal I knew I could achieve.
What are your go-to fundraising strategies? – Talking with friends and new friends I meet during my training walks. Working with some businesses to display my cards and I held a fundraiser. I currently have raised over $12,000 and I am working to reach the minimum, but won’t stop there. Fundraising will continue until San Diego.
What are you looking forward to the most with your walks this year? – Traveling to the events, meeting the walkers, meeting new 3-Day crew members and reconnecting with members I have met over the years, and really looking forward to connecting/meeting with the local volunteers.
Is there anything that you’re nervous about? – LOL, losing luggage (which is very rare these days, but it happens)!
What 3 words would you use to describe the 3-Day? – Inspired, committed, family

Come back tomorrow and meet two more of the full series 3-Day walkers!

Introducing the 3-Day Series Walkers – Part 1

That’s why it’s especially remarkable when we meet a walker who makes the extraordinary decision to walk in every 3-Day® event in one year. In the past, there have been one or two walkers each year who dedicate themselves to walking the “full series,” but in 2014, we are honored to have eight amazing people taking on the full series and walking in all seven 3-Day events.

Today, let’s meet two of the series walkers, and we’ll introduce you to the rest over the next few days!

Nicole H.

Nicole and her primitive pink friend

What’s your name and where are you from? – My name is Nicole Hercules and I am from St. Peters, Missouri
What is your 3-Day history (how many events have you walked/crewed?) – I began walking the 3-Day in 2010. Last year I completed my 6th event as a walker with the 3-Day.
How/why did you first get involved with the 3-Day? – I became involved with the 3-Day because I lost my mom to breast cancer in 2004. In 2009, I also discovered that I am considered high risk. Those were my main reasons in 2010, now in 2014 there are too many to even count.
Are you part of any teams in 2014? – I am on a team for every 3-Day except for Twin Cities.
What made you decide to do all 7 events this year? – My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer a few days before I left for the Cleveland event last year. He passed away on November 5, 2013. I have now lost two parents to cancer. I will turn 40 in August, and it will be my 10th birthday without my mom. I figured if there was a year to do it, this would be the one.
What are your go-to fundraising strategies? – Ask anyone and everyone. All they can say is no. Also don’t be afraid to try new things. You never know what might take off.
What are you looking forward to the most with your walks this year? – Making a difference and meeting new people. I want to show others that anything can be done if you want it bad enough. There isn’t much in the world that I want more than a cure for cancer.
Is there anything that you’re nervous about? – Not really. Maybe back-to-back 3-Day events; I haven’t ever done those before. Oh and that crazy long bridge in Seattle.
What 3 words would you use to describe the 3-Day? – Hope, Cure, and Love

Melissa P.

Yeah. Melissa looks ready. 🙂

What’s your name and where are you from? – Melissa Province – Minneola, Kansas
What is your 3-Day history (how many events have you walked/crewed?) – 2011 – walked Dallas (with broken foot!); 2012 – walked Dallas; 2013 – walked San Diego [Correction: Melissa walked Seattle in 2013!]
How/why did you first get involved with the 3-Day? – Shortly after my step mother Marcy faced her 2nd diagnosis of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, I decided I wanted to be more actively involved with advocating, awareness and early detection. My grandmother, a breast cancer survivor and one of my biggest motivators, had a huge influence on my decision to get involved with the 3-Day. After all, I had 2 amazing examples of fighters, 2 inspiring stories of hope, and 2 perfect examples of the importance of early detection right before my eyes.
Are you part of any teams in 2014? – I am so excited about my teams this year! In Michigan, I have the honor to walk with Cleveland Cleavage. Twin Cities, I am available if anyone needs another walker to join their team! Philly, I have the privilege to be part of an amazing team known as Breast Friends of Pennsylvania. Seattle is exciting because I will get to walk with my awesome friends as part of Team Tracy! Atlanta, I am joining the Atlanta Alliance. Dallas, I am walking with the Wonder Boobs! San Diego, I get to be reunited with the every so classy and super sassy team that I love with all of my heart, Saving Private Tatas.
What made you decide to do all 7 events this year? – I am a dreamer, so since 2012 I knew that someday I would walk all of the 3-Day events in one year. I like to set insane goals and then go out there and grab them. I wasn’t really sure that this was the year – until my Sole Sister, Nicole [Hercules, a fellow 2014 series walker] called me with the news of her father passing from lung cancer. My immediate response was “I have to walk all 7.” She agreed that she had to as well. We quickly went on a registering spree, and here we are!
What are your go-to fundraising strategies? – The best way to raise money is to simply ask. When people know that you are only “so much” short of a goal, they want to help you. If I am $100 short of hitting the 70% mark, I post that to Facebook. Personally, I think that people enjoy knowing that they were responsible for getting you to the next mile marker. When all else fails, you tell people that your gigantic husband will paint his toenails pink when your account reaches $100, dye his beard pink at $500, dance in a tutu at $1000 and cook pizza in your restaurant all weekend long in a tutu once your reach $2300. It will freak your kids out, but your account fills up pretty quickly!
What are you looking forward to the most with your walks this year? – I love people, so I am most looking forward to making new friends. I am also looking forward to camping in a hot pink tent, and the Macaroni and Cheese.
Is there anything that you’re nervous about? – Nervous, I am! I am absolutely freaking out about hitting my fundraising minimum for all 7 cities. It is such a huge dedication, and I don’t want to fail anyone because I fell short of the fundraising requirements.
What 3 words would you use to describe the 3-Day? – Motivational, Inspirational, Sensational!

Come back to the 3-Day blog tomorrow to meet two more of our full series walkers!

Always Faithful – An Inspiring Story of One Flag, Two Men and the 3-Day

In November 2013, when I walked in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® in San Diego, my teammate and I were approaching a pit stop on the first day when we spotted a flag fluttering up ahead. Flags are a common sight on the Komen 3-Day, as walkers carry dozens of tall pink banners on the route, encouraging each other with their phrases of inspiration. But this was a flag that wasn’t so common on the 3-Day® – this was a full-sized American flag being carried by two men.

When we got closer, I got a better look at the pair. They wore matching pink socks and pink t-shirts with a beautiful young woman’s picture on them. We stopped and my teammate asked if she could take their photo (as many other walkers were doing, too), then we moved on. I spotted them a few more times throughout the weekend—they were hard to miss, with the Stars and Stripes always flying over their shoulders—but didn’t really get their story until months later, when I was thinking about how to commemorate Independence Day on the 3-Day blog. I immediately thought, “What about those guys in San Diego who carried the flag?”

We did a little research and discovered that “those guys” are Bob and Rob H., a father and son from Southern California. Both men were first-time walkers in San Diego last year, taking part in the 3-Day in support of Heather, the woman whose picture they wore on their shirts. Heather is Bob’s daughter and Rob’s sister, and she was diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2013 at the age of 38.

Rob shared, “She had started undergoing treatment last summer, and we wanted to raise money for [Susan G. Komen®] because we were impressed with their use of the money over other charities (large percentage going towards research and offsetting expenses for those that can’t afford things associated with treatment, insurance, various other expenses, etc.). We wanted to contribute to the effort.”

And what about the flag? Heather told us, “My brother has been a competitive runner for many years. He has done triathlons, Ironman and Ultraman races. When he does his races he is always carrying the American flag. My family is a military family. My dad is a retired Marine of 30 years, my brother Rob is an active duty Marine and my husband is also an active duty Marine.”

Rob added, “Being Marines and proud patriots, my dad and I carried the American flag to foster camaraderie, motivation and inspiration to our fellow walkers. No matter what is going on in the world, everybody gets behind a flying American flag!”

Bob and Rob will not be walking this year (Rob is in the process of moving to the East Coast on new military orders), but Heather will carry on the legacy that her family started last year and will walk in her first 3-Day this November in San Diego as a proud survivor.

Heather’s team, appropriately, is Team Semper Fi.

Semper Fi is short for “Semper Fidelis,” the motto of the U.S. Marines. Translated, it means “Always Faithful.” I can’t think of a more perfect name for a family who came together and endured the fear and pain of a breast cancer diagnosis, stepped up to it and walked 60 miles toward a cure, all the while maintaining faith in the power of pink, under the colors of red, white and blue.