Tag Archives: Susan G. Komen

San Diego Milestone Award Winner: Stephen Y.

Meet Stephen Y., our 2024 San Diego 3-Day Milestone Award Winner!    

Over the past 13 years, Stephen has participated in 37 Susan G. Komen 3-Day® events, raising a lifetime total of more than $152,000 and promises to walk until we find the cures. Following his wife Karen’s breast cancer diagnosis in 2005, he began participating in the Komen 3-Day as a crew member while she walked. As her disease progressed and Karen was unable to walk, Stephen stepped into her shoes, vowing to his wife that he would never miss an event.  

“Our cousin Stephen is a remarkable individual, embodying strength and resilience in the face of profound loss. He has participated in the 3-Day® since 2011 to raise funds for cancer research. He always says that he doesn’t want anyone else to suffer the pain and grief that his family did. Stephen is driven by the memory of his beloved wife, Karen, who bravely battled breast cancer. With each step, he carries her spirit, honoring her legacy and raising awareness for a cause that is deeply personal to him.  

His passion is palpable, always seen with a determined smile and a heart full of purpose as he reaches out to encourage others. He connects with fellow participants, sharing stories of love and loss, creating a supportive community. Through fundraising efforts and outreach, he spreads hope and inspires others to join the fight against cancer. His journey is not just about walking; it’s a heartfelt tribute to the love he and Karen shared along with their three children. It is a testament to his commitment to make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer. He is a beacon of hope, reminding everyone around him of the power of love and perseverance.” —Alyse, David, Shayna, Marc, Ethan, Bella & Haley 

What was your inspiration to do your first Susan G. Komen 3-Day? 

My wife started walking when she got cancer the first time. When she got cancer the second time and could not walk, I said, “I’ll do your walk to keep the continuity going.” So that was my first walk in 2011 to keep her legacy alive while she was back in treatment, going through chemo. 

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

There are multiple reasons in addition to my wife, but, certainly, the Pink Bubble is part of what brings me back. What my family went through and lives on a day-to-day basis is really horrible, and I really feel like nobody else should have to go through this. I have the power to do something about it, or I have the power to say somebody should do something about it. So instead of saying somebody should do something about it, I get out and do what I can. 
 
Nobody should live with this disease. It’s really horrible. And, also, what if my daughter were to get breast cancer and I wasn’t doing something about it? I can’t say I’m doing everything, because everything’s too strong of a word, but I feel like I’m doing my share, and if everybody does their share, I think we’ll get where we need to go.  

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

Ask everybody in sight. I keep little cards in my wallet because you never know who you’ll run into. You hand them a card, and they might or might not make a donation. It turns into a conversation, and I turn it around and say, hey, I’m doing this. Maybe you’d like to join me on a walk or make a donation. When you get a donation, great, when you don’t, oh, well. But, even if I don’t get a donation, I’ve done something to increase awareness. 

I also sell See’s Candy and I practically fund one walk with them, so selling some kind of a product is helpful. Match partners are really helpful, and I also have some very generous donors. 

What is the best advice you would give to anyone walking the 3-Day?   

You have to get past your first walk to really enjoy it, because the first time out, you’re like, “What did I get myself into?” But you need to enjoy the people you’re with. It’s about sharing stories; it’s about recognizing we’re all there for a similar reason or cause. We’re all in this fight together so it’s important to listen to what everybody else has to say.  
 
Make sure you train. I do way better when I train, and I wear sandals. It’s important to find what’s right for you. You have to walk your own walk; don’t try to walk somebody else’s walk. If you try to walk somebody else’s walk for 60 miles, you’ll be hurting.  

It’s a wonderful thing when you happen to find somebody you’re very compatible with, walking speed, style, conversationally and you guys could just go on for hours. That’s a wonderful thing that happens sometimes, but you just got to do your own walk. You got to breathe. 

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

I learned that we’re not all alone out there. When you or someone you love gets cancer, you feel like you’re the only one. When disaster strikes, you always feel like you’re the only person this has ever happened to. But at the 3-Day you learn that you’re not really so alone. 

What’s a fun fact about you? 

When Karen and I dated I mailed her a card every single day. It didn’t start in the very beginning, but at some given point in the relationship, we lived an hour plus apart by car, so I used to just go to the store and buy a stack of thinking of you cards or something to that effect. Because the post office is closed one day a week, she might have got two some days, none some days, but the goal was for her to get one card a day. I have a box somewhere in my house of all those cards. Every day, now, I wear a bracelet that holds Karen’s ashes and a necklace that contains a piece of jewelry I bought her in the early stages of dating. The piece that belonged to her says “It’s Magic” and, when I gave it to her, I had no idea that her late father was an amateur magician, so it was extra special to her.  

Also, I love to go water skiing. My family and I go to the lake one week a year and use the boat; I just think about how many smiles we get out of that one week. I also grew up sailing and I taught woodshop for years. 

“From my perspective as Stephen’s coach for many years, many of us can only hope to be loved and cherished as much as Stephen loves and cherishes Karen.” —Coach Staci 

November Pink Bubble Story of the Month: Lauren M.

“My mom was more than her diagnosis; she was a beacon of strength, love, and compassion to everyone who knew her.  

“At just 34 years old, she discovered a small lump during a self-examination and was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite the fear and uncertainty, she faced her mastectomy and six months of chemotherapy with courage, all while caring for my 6-year-old sister and me, a 2½-year-old, and supporting my dad. Her strength and resilience saw her through, and after treatment, she was declared cancer-free and entered remission. 

“True to her giving nature, once she regained her strength, my mom began volunteering at Victory in the Valley in Wichita, Kansas, helping other women navigate their own battles with breast cancer. However, in her fourth year of remission, the devastating news came: her cancer had returned. 

“For five more years, my mom faced this relentless disease with grace, undergoing six different treatment protocols. She lost her hair and nails, but never her spirit. Even as a nurse, fully aware of the uphill battle she faced, she focused on teaching my sister and me about life, ensuring that we felt as normal and loved as possible despite her struggle. 

“On November 2, 2000, at just 44 years old, my mom passed away. While she is no longer with us physically, her legacy of strength, kindness, and unwavering love lives on through my sister and me. We strive every day to carry forward the values she instilled in us, honoring the extraordinary woman who taught us what it means to live fully, love deeply, and persevere through even the most difficult challenges.”  

“My friend, Sonia, is a survivor. She asked me to join her in this experience and I couldn’t be more grateful to have walked alongside her and our incredible team, STEPS. Being surrounded by such inspirational people—men and women who have given years of their lives to this cause—was deeply moving. Walking alongside people who were on their 36th walk or were tackling all four events this year was remarkable. It left me feeling like I’ll never be able to let a year go by without being involved in some way. Whether walking, cheering, or volunteering, I know I want to be part of this incredible community. Seeing the strength and resilience of the survivors and hearing their stories made a profound impact on my heart. Their courage is something I’ll carry with me always.” 

—Lauren M., first-time 3-Dayer 

Dallas/Fort Worth Milestone Award Winner: Sheryl C.

Meet Sheryl C., our 2024 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day Milestone Award Winner!    

Since her first 3-Day 15 years ago, Sheryl has walked 34 times and has raised more than $191,000. Not only that, but the team that she captains with Dana Bilbray, STEPS, was this year’s top fundraising team on the New England and Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Days. Team STEPS is closing in on $2 million dollars raised since their inception in 2009, with their team’s lifetime fundraising history just shy of $1.9 million STEPS has no off-season; they train and fundraise all year round and are instrumental in ensuring the success of the Susan G. Komen Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day! 

“My name is Sharon F., Sheryl’s twin sister, and I wanted to share some things about her from my perspective. Sheryl is a natural leader—leading by example, encouraging, challenging, removing barriers and inspiring others.” 

What was your sister’s inspiration to do her first Susan G. Komen 3-Day®? 

Her inspiration is both professional and personal. Professionally she is a Family Medicine physician and reminds patients that only about 15% of women have a family history of breast cancer, so it is critical for the 85% without a family history of breast cancer to ALSO get regular mammograms. It’s also personal, since breast cancer was diagnosed in our maternal aunt in her thirties, in our paternal aunt in her sixties and in several of our cousins on both sides. Sheryl inspires us all to be better versions of ourselves and to help those around us. 

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

Sheryl has been on the front lines as a doctor for over 30 years. While the mission of Susan G. Komen® is to help eradicate breast cancer, she sees it as much more. The Komen 3-Day is an opportunity for her to impact the overall health and well-being of others. She helps teammates accomplish goals they did not think they could obtain, taking each step with them, including helping them with hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, weight loss, self-confidence, and more. Sheryl often kicks off the weekly training walks with a brief medical education topic then puts purpose to the perspiration by asking who we are walking for that day. We walk for friends, family and coworkers who are newly tossed into the whirlwind of a cancer diagnosis and for all those who have been affected by breast cancer, some surviving and some not. There are too many stories and too many affected by breast cancer. By returning year after year, Sheryl continues the support, increases awareness, educates, motivates, and reaches the next generation so that perhaps one day we won’t have to walk anymore. 

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

Fundraising is challenging, but since team STEPS started in 2009, every person on our team who has wanted to walk in the 3-Day has been able to do so. Sheryl issues various challenges to the team then personally donates to anyone who meets the challenge — like donating to teammates if they get a mammogram; brilliant! I updated my mammogram one year because of her. Thanks, Sis! Sheryl has either donated, matched or encouraged others to collectively raise $1.8 million dollars on team STEPS. She is so passionate about making a difference in those affected by breast cancer that people often approach her to ask if they can donate. 

What is the best advice she would give to anyone walking the 3-Day?   

  1. My sister would tell you to join a team, and, of course, Sheryl would want you to join her team STEPS!  
  1. She would encourage you to go to a training walk, reminding you that you don’t have to be an athlete. Not everyone has to walk every step, but by showing up you take more steps than those who didn’t. 
  1. She would say never underestimate the power of giving away a free T-shirt (or anything else)! She will quite often give something to someone who donated, or someone recently diagnosed with breast cancer to let them know she cares. It starts a conversation, makes a connection, and tells a story. It says, “I’m part of something that makes a difference. Join me.” Sheryl has also bought things to give away to people who show up for training walks — like a buff to help with heat exhaustion or like a device that will break a car window if needed in an emergency and she may include some sort of short health or safety talk to go with it — it’s powerful! She has used it over and over. 

What’s a fun fact about her? 

Sheryl is a word nerd. She is a cutthroat Words With Friends player and studies word lists. Also, one year Sheryl made a New Year’s resolution to do something in support of breast cancer every day of the year and she did it, 365 days in a row! 

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

To bring up the next generation of walkers, crew, scientists, researchers and keen minds. Sheryl loves the 3-Day motto, “We lay down our footsteps for this generation and the next.” 

Recently, Sheryl had a competition to design a new 3-Day buff/gaiter. All ages entered, but the winners were children ages four, six and eight. Their artwork is featured on the buff with this saying “Taking STEPS big and small.” Who knows what impact that will have on these children, what impact cancer will have on them, and what impact they will have on cancer in the future? 

Sheryl knows that in the fight against breast cancer, all our steps are important. She continues to learn from those who started before her, challenges and inspires those around her, and makes sure that she is lifting the next generation. She knows that each small step adds up to something bigger and pinker than any one person acting alone.