Jacki P.’s 3-Day Story: 78 and Still Showing Up

Jacki P. at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.

When Jacki P. was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, she was terrified. Today, at 78, she is a survivor who—after 20 years of participation—remains deeply committed to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®.

“Last year, I thought I should hang up my shoes because it’s so hard to raise fundraising dollars at my age,” Jacki said. “But when a former teammate was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, I realized I can’t stop. I need to do more.”

The Mammogram That Changed Everything

Jacki’s life changed with a routine mammogram in 1996. Shortly after the exam, she received a phone call from a breast cancer surgeon that changed everything.

“My thoughts immediately started racing,” Jacki recalled. “Will I see my children grow up? Would I be there to attend their high school graduations and weddings, or hold my grandbabies? I was terrified.”

At that time, most of what Jacki heard about breast cancer were the “horror stories” about being sick, scarring and pain from treatment. Jacki’s breast cancer was caught early, a fact she credits with saving her life.

“The lump was deep,” she said. “I never would have found it on my own.”

Jacki underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy. In August, she celebrated her 29th year of survivorship.

A New Perspective

Jacki P. celebrating 29 years of breast cancer survivorship.

Surviving breast cancer changed how Jacki viewed life. She became more mindful of her health, more grounded in gratitude for her family and more committed to paying it forward. She said she listens more, helps where she can and still treasures every day.

“Cancer becomes part of your soul. It never really leaves you,” Jacki said. “Even now, it brings tears to my eyes. There’s always that question in the back of my mind: ‘Will it come back?’”

Rather than living in fear, Jacki has chosen to keep moving forward with purpose.

20 Years of the Komen 3-Day

Jacki first participated in the Komen 3-Day in Arizona in 2005 and later joined Team Las Bombas. In 2021, the team reached the Million Dollar Team milestone. In 2025, Jacki spoke at the Denver 3-Day and achieved her personal lifetime goal of $50,000. But, she’s not done yet.

“I’ve walked for 20 years, crewed four times and have met the most incredible people,” she said with a smile. “Although I am 78, I am still in very good condition.”

Jacki P. at the Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day.

This year, Jacki plans to walk the San Diego 3-Day and crew in Tampa Bay. The support and connection within the 3-Day community are what keep Jacki coming back year after year.

“There’s still work to do. That’s why I keep walking and crewing,” Jacki said. “That’s why we all keep doing the 3-Day. Until breast cancer is behind us, we’ll keep showing up.”

The 3-Day and the “Bravest Scared Mom”: Heather’s Story

Heather B. at the 2025 Susan G. Komen Boston 3-Day.

The 2025 Susan G. Komen Boston 3-Day® was Heather B.’s first breast cancer event, and it was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Over the course of three days, she pushed herself physically and mentally, formed new friendships and discovered just how strong she had become.

But just a few years earlier, Heather’s life looked very different.

She was 39, living at home on lockdown with two young children during the coronavirus pandemic, when she received a phone call that changed everything: “Heather, you have breast cancer.”

There’s no way to prepare for that kind of news. Heather was terrified, but through that fear, she made a promise to herself.

“I was going to be the bravest scared mom ever,” she said.

Connecting to Others During Treatment

Heather went through 16 rounds of chemotherapy, 28 sessions of radiation therapy, a double mastectomy and a full hysterectomy. She wanted to be as proactive as possible in her treatment. Just six months earlier, her children had lost their grandmother to cancer.

“I was determined they would not lose their mom, too,” she said.

The pandemic made an already overwhelming journey even harder. Heather’s care team required her to come alone for her medical appointments and treatments. No visitors. No hand to hold. No comfort of familiar faces. At times, she felt isolated, so she turned to online communities for connection.

“I found others going through the same thing—and those relationships quickly became my lifeline,” she said.

Heather B. and her friends at the 2025 Susan G. Komen Boston 3-Day.

Finding Purpose

Somewhere in the middle of all the chaos that comes with a life-altering diagnosis, Heather found something unexpected: purpose. By supporting others diagnosed with breast cancer, sharing what she learned through her diagnosis and “simply listening,” she found healing in unexpected ways.

In June, Heather celebrated five years as a survivor. She said people often question why she remains involved with the breast cancer community since she has already “beaten” cancer. Heather said it’s simply because, “the journey doesn’t end when treatment does.” It carries lifelong impacts including physical and emotional side effects, scars, surgeries, anxiety, hormonal changes, fear and fatigue.

“So, until there’s a cure, I’ll keep showing up— for myself, for my kids and for everyone sitting in a chemo chair feeling scared and uncertain, just like I did,” Heather added.

For Heather, showing up began at her first 3-Day walk in Boston, and will continue at the 2027 Tampa Bay 3-Day, where she has plans to walk with her sister. For this “brave” mom, the strength that once carried her through breast cancer now carries her forward to offer hope to others.

Looking Back at a Remarkable 2025 3-Day

2025 San Diego 3-Day

In 2025, the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® was shaped not by perfect conditions, but by unwavering commitment. Across four cities, thousands of walkers and crew members faced unexpected challenges and changing routes, yet the Pink Bubble met every moment with resilience, compassion and a shared determination to help end breast cancer forever.

Nearly 4,640 walkers and crew members showed up with one shared purpose. Rain fell, routes shifted and plans evolved, but the strength of the 3-Day community never wavered. By year’s end, that determination had raised more than $12 million to support breast cancer research, community health programs and policy advocacy.

Denver: Where the Journey Began

The 2025 3-Day season began in Denver where walkers set the tone for the year ahead. In August, participants walked 60, 40 or 20 miles over the course of three days in the Mile High City among mountain views and nearby Boulder. Together, 610 walkers and crew raised nearly $1.3 million, launching the season with momentum.

2025 Denver 3-Day

New England: Building Strength Along the Way

The journey continued over the summer in New England and was nothing short of extraordinary. With 930 dedicated walkers and crew members, the community raised $2.4 million for breast cancer research, community health, patient care and advocacy.

Dallas/Fort Worth: Hope Through The Rain

In Texas, the Pink Bubble filled the streets of Dallas and Fort Worth with determination and gratitude. Even when the rain led to some minor scheduling adjustments, the Pink Bubble’s energy remained strong. Together, 800 walkers and crew members raised $2.1 million. Each dollar raised and each story shared moves the 3-Day community one step closer to a world without breast cancer.

San Diego: The Season’s Powerful Final Chapter

The 2025 season came to a close in San Diego and it did so in unforgettable fashion. A powerful rainstorm reshaped the November weekend, but it never shook the resolve of the community. What began as a hopeful 60-mile journey became a defining display of grit, teamwork and heart.

In the end, more than 1,900 walkers and 330 crew members celebrated raising $6.5 million. There were tears, cheers and the shared understanding that this San Diego 3-Day will be remembered for decades.

We Never Give Up

The 2025 3-Day wasn’t just about miles walked—it was about standing together when circumstances changed and pushing forward anyway.

From mountains to coastlines, rainstorms to sunshine, the Pink Bubble proved once again that this community doesn’t just walk—it leads, lifts and refuses to give up.