What Gets You Through – Your 3-Day Mantras

Earlier this week on Facebook, we asked you to share your mantras – those motivating words, phrases or thoughts that get you through the most physically challenging times on the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®—and boy did you all come through!

On Monday we’ll share a very cool “word cloud” compilation of the shorter mantra phrases, but for today enjoy some of the longer, more detailed responses that our incredible 3-Dayers shared.

Rex H.: “My wife and I have read some very motivating memorials on the backs other people’s t-shirts [while we were walking]. It helps us forget about the hill. The blister. Being tired. All of those things are momentary. But those sisters we followed for I don’t know how many miles have lost their mother forever. That keeps me coming back.”

Meg S.: “I never heard her complain. Not once in the 5 years she fought so hard. So [my mantra was]… ‘I want to be as strong as my sister!’”

Marilyn I.: “Last year was my first 3-Day. Day 1… evening felt like glass in my quads, Day 2..was like razors in my calves, Day 3… I felt like a linebacker hit me about 4 miles before the finish line….I just couldn’t think of a good enough reason to quit! Everyone Deserves a Lifetime – Everyone.”

Tommy P.: “[My mantra was,] ‘If she can I can.’ I soloed my 1st walk in 2010. Did not stretch enough Friday AM and PM. I was in bad shape Saturday AM. I limped around. Rubbed down, took Advil, and stretched. I was going to walk. An hour or so in I was still questioning walking till I saw one walker. She walked with a stiff leg limp. I watched her. She was wearing long walking pants but I could see her ankle. She was wearing a prosthetic leg with locked ankle and knee joints. I determined from that point on ‘if she can I can.’ I have never questioned it since then. I never met her. Have not been able to find out who she is but she is a hero to me.”

Molly D.: “My best friend can’t talk to his Mom. Keep walking.”

Tara Z.: “I can’t do the walk due to severe back problems…but I am a cancer survivor and I have to say that all you walkers should know we (cancer survivors) know what you do and we appreciate it. When you get tired and feel like you can’t make it, just remember that because of what you are doing someone somewhere that is going through chemo or radiation is counting on you, is in pain with you and is more grateful than you will ever know. Your mantra could be ‘I’M A SUPER PERSON, I HELPED SOMONE WITH CANCER TODAY!’”

Frances V.: “I see all those wonderful people that come out cheer us on and then you spot that one very strong person in the crowd. You can tell that they have either just gone through chemo or maybe are still receiving it. They are out there supporting us and I think to myself, “60 miles is nothing compared to what they are struggling with.” Makes the rest if my day go by easier. Thank you for supporting us. You are why we so this and I know one day we will find that cure.”

Sandi S.: “I count my steps on all challenging hills…keeps me focused!”

Sara D.: “We DANCE!! When we’re too tired to walk, we crank up the tunes and dance our way in! Works every time!!”

Jenifer M.: “Our struggles are minor. Our journey has an end in sight. We know how long our journey is. The ones we are representing with our journey have a far longer journey with more pain and not certain how long their journey is. Together we all can make a difference one step at a time!”

Paula P.: “I have 5 daughters, I name one with each step. Kristen, Katie, Kayla, Kourtney, Khendra… Repeat.”

Tammy J.: “Walk through the tired. Tough times never last but tough people do.”

Melissa L.: “I went through surgeries and chemo – this pain feels GREAT because I am choosing it!”

Brendalee H.: “Hearing my nephew’s voice say, ‘You can do it Aunt E!’”

Carla S.: “When I had breast cancer, I never stopped just because I was tired. I can do this!”

Cristina U.: “They did it. They fought a harder battle, climbed a steeper hill, and faced the unimaginable. I can do this.”

Beth M.: “I start reciting the names of the people we’ve lost to breast cancer.”

Mandy B.: “My friend, Alisa, and I have walked three 3-Days and are signed up for the fourth. When a big hill appears we tackle it with little to no words. I don’t think we will ever forget the gigantic hill in Boston (our first walk that got us hooked) where a little girl was standing at the top holding a sign thanking us for walking because her mom died from breast cancer. Having young kids at home, that hit me pretty hard. I walk because I can and I thank everyone who supports me!”

Tamela L.: “When I did the walk in San Diego years ago there was a bald woman at the top of one of the hills we had to climb — she was dressed in pink and holding a sign that said: ‘Thank you for walking for me.’ Best moment of the weekend!”

Sydni L.: “No words…just take a deep breath and look around. The motivation is all around you.”

Don’t Fear the Fundraising “No” – Part 2 of 2

So you’ve committed to raising money for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®, but you’re worried that your friends and family will say no when you ask them for donations. In Part 1 of this post, we shared some tips for how to deal with this fear on your way to fundraising success, and today, we offer a few more thoughts.

Yesterday’s last tip urged you to send your fundraising letter out to every person you have an email address for. Every single one. Here’s why…

Don’t Make Someone’s Decision for Them – In looking down your list of potential donors, you may feel certain that some people on that list will, without a doubt, say no to your donation request. Maybe they’ve said no in the past, maybe you’re aware that their personal financial situation is precarious, maybe you don’t know them very well and therefore assume that they won’t be invested in supporting you. Stop it!

It’s impossible for you to know everything going on in another person’s life (just as it’s impossible for them to fully know your life), and that’s also true about knowing every person’s connection to breast cancer. I’ve gotten some very generous donations over the years from really unexpected sources—one of my husband’s co-workers whose wife was battling breast cancer for the third time; a friend of my mom’s who had lost her mom to the disease; another parent at my daughter’s school who was a survivor herself. These were all people who I didn’t know very well and whose lives, I learned, were affected by breast cancer in ways that I could never see on the surface. If I had assumed that I knew their answer would be no, I would have missed out on those donations, and they would have missed out on the chance to honor their loved ones in such a meaningful way.

Arm Yourself With the Facts – Sometimes donors may be reluctant to give because they don’t fully understand or embrace the mission you’re working toward. Prepare yourself for these hesitant donors by having some facts at the ready. The 3-Day Fact Sheet offers details about the money raised by the 3-Day, and the Susan G. Komen® website has detailed financial information available to anyone who’s looking for it. Additionally, there are independent “watchdog” sites, such as Charity Navigator or BBB Wise Giving Alliance, which provide nonpartisan ratings and reviews of charitable organizations.

And finally…Accept the No – Giving to a charity is a deeply personal act, and every person will make their own (hopefully) well-informed decision. The truth is, even if you follow the rest of my advice to a tee, there’s still a good possibility that some people are going say no. You have to be prepared for that possibility, and accept that it will happen. It’s not a judgment on you, and you can’t let it deter you from your goal. Be respectful of someone’s choice, thank them for their consideration and move on. This kind of acceptance is incredibly freeing, and will allow you to keep up your positive momentum without feeling crushed under the weight of rejection.

Everything’s going to be okay!

There are plenty of people out there who, I promise, will be eager to support you in your 3-Day fundraising. And the culmination of all of your hard-earned donations—walking in the 3-Day—will make every speed bump along the way well worth it. Don’t let fear stop you.

Don’t Fear the Fundraising “No” – Part 1 of 2

The Susan G. Komen 3-Day® is an incredible, life-changing 60-mile walk, but first and foremost, it’s a fundraising event. Our whole goal is to raise the money that will fund the cures for breast cancer. We know that raising $2300 is a big challenge, but we wouldn’t ask if we weren’t 100% confident that you can do it.

In a previous blog post, we shared tips for getting your fundraising started early. But for many 3-Day® fundraisers, even with an early start, the fear of donors saying “no” freezes them right in their tracks. Here are my tidbits of advice for how to deal with the fear of the “no.”

Just Ask! – When anxiety strikes and the fear of rejection looms, you may start to rationalize that, “If I just don’t ask, they can’t say no…” But you have to put it out there. You have to ask. Those funds aren’t going to raise themselves, and YOU are the vehicle for raising the funds. The Golden Rule of Fundraising is simple: You raise money when you ask for it. The number one reason why people give is simply because they were asked. To put it another way, you build the bridge between the people in your life who are willing to give, and the crucial need that their donations will go toward filling; and the bridge you build is the ASK.

That’s my first, my best and my simplest piece of advice for the nervous fundraiser: take a deep breath and ASK!

Water the Seed – The first ask plants the seed in your donors’ minds and occasionally, that seed will take root right away and they’ll donate on the first request (feels great when that happens!). But for most donors, the real nurturing comes with the follow-ups. Think of those second, third, or fourth asks as water and sunlight for that seed you planted. With some patience and persistence, that little seed will grow too. (Plant metaphor complete.)

No Offense – I know what many of you are doing right now: you’re picturing your donors rolling their eyes and sighing with irritation as they read your fundraising letters or see your Facebook posts, but trust me—they’re not! Put aside the worry that people are going to be upset or offended that you’re asking them—even several times—for money. Think about it: do YOU do that when you get a donation request from someone? Remember, you’re not asking for someone to pay for your vacation or that new Coach purse; you’re asking them to invest in a cause that is important to you, and support programs and resources that are critical in the fight against breast cancer. I’ve fundraised and walked the 3-Day fourteen times, and I’ve never once had someone say, “How dare you ask me for a donation!” or, “I really wish you wouldn’t send me so many emails about your walk.” On the contrary, I frequently have people thank ME for sending and posting the reminders.

Go Fishing – When it comes to fundraising, I know that the in-person face-to-face ask is one of the most effective ways to get donations. But I also know that not everyone is comfortable with that level of intimate interaction (I fall into that category myself). That’s okay. You should definitely TRY to make the requests personal with the people you’re closest to, but you can also catch a lot of donor fish by casting your net as widely as you can. The results you can get from taking the time to write a heartfelt and captivating fundraising letter, and then sending it to every person you have an email address for, are grand. Yes, you read that right. Send it to every person you have an email address for.