Top Atlanta 3-Day Fundraisers

After a sunny day on the Susan G. Komen 3-Day^® here in Atlanta, the walkers and crew rolled into camp for some well deserved rest! Presenting Sponsor Bank of America joined Dr. Sheri in presenting the 2013 Top Fundraiser Awards. Here they are:

Top Crew Fundraiser: Alison Glancz, $8,505; Camp Services Crew

Alison Glancz is awarded by Bank of America for being the Top Crew Fundraiser for the Atlanta 3-Day

Top Fundraising Team: Feet to Beat Breast Cancer, $90,483; (Team Captain Carolyn Parks)

Carolyn Parks congratulates her team for which she is accepting the award: Top Fundraising Team "Feet to Beat"

Carolyn Parks congratulates her team for whom she is accepting the award: Top Fundraising Team “Feet to Beat Breast Cancer”

Top Individual Fundraiser: Michelle Garcia, $15,190; (Team PINKALICIOUS)

Michelle Garcia receives the award for Top Individual Fundraiser for the 2013 Atlanta 3-Day

What amazing accomplishments from these individuals and from all of the walkers and crew in their fundraising efforts. You have all made a difference in the fight against breast cancer. Get ready for Day 2 of the Atlanta 3-Day!

3 Days. 60 Miles. 90 Years.

Breast cancer survivor Sally D found her first 3-Day experience in San Francisco this July to be more than she could have ever imagined. So much so, it inspired her mom, Nancy to join Sally to walk in the 2013 Seattle 3-Day that started this morning. Nancy is celebrating her 90^th birthday during her 3-Day weekend! Nancy’s granddaughter Christy also joined them to make a three-generation team.

(left to right) Sally D, Nancy R, and Christy D make up team “Nancy at Ninety” on the Seattle 3-Day in 2013

When Sally D came back from the San Francisco Bay Area 3-Day, she shared her memories with her mother. “I showed my 89 year-old mom the photos from my first 3-Day, and she got emotional recounting how her sister, Margaret, died of breast cancer at age 52. She said, ‘Sal, if I were younger, I would have liked to have walked with you. I am proud of you that you have done this.’”

Sally realized that her mother’s age didn’t have to stand in the way. “Why can’t she do it? She turns 90 on the 3-Day, so Team Nancy at Ninety was born. It was meant to be – Seattle is her childhood town!”

It took a bit of cajoling to convince Nancy that she could go the distance. “They have a sweep van,” mentioned her daughter Nancy. “You only need to walk a few miles at a time, then they’ll take you to the next pit stop. Whatever you can do will be perfect. We can even sleep in a hotel at night!”

Nancy with her daughter Sally are teaming up with their fundraising efforts. “We have handed out fliers around her neighborhood, and received a few donations. Her friends in her old community are supporting her. Our family is pitching in, and many of my friends are so inspired by her determination that they are donating again. Who wouldn’t be inspired by a 90 year old who has the guts to do this? Or even who has the ability to walk a mile each day! It has been phenomenal, and has given Mom a new focus for her life.”

Nancy (left) is turning 90 this weekend on her first Komen 3-Day® in Seattle this morning. Her daughter Sally (center) and granddaughter Christy (right) are the team “Nancy at Ninety”

Sally reflected on her 3-Day journey that began when a friend asked, “Do you want to do the San Francisco 3-Day with me?” Sally said, “That small pebble tossed into still waters progressed from a ripple to a tsunami! It led to training, taking better care of myself, meeting others and creating a team that raised nearly $10,000. Now I am walking in my second 3-Day with my mom and our Seattle team. It’s approaching tsunami proportions!”

Here’s to Nancy, Sally, and Christy! Seattle participants, be sure to find team “Nancy at Ninety” and wish our special participant a happy 90^th birthday!

Team “Nancy at Ninety” take a break during the 22.9-mile course in Seattle today in raising funds for breast cancer research

Are you celebrating a milestone on the 3-Day? Share your story in the comments below.

5 Qualities of 3-Day Friendship

As a 3-Day coach in Washington, D.C., Shawn Supers has met hundreds of 3-Day participants each year who tell her they are looking to meet new people. Some have just relocated, others are recently separated or divorced. Many hope that participating in a cause-related fundraising event like the 3-Day will help them meet good-hearted, like-minded people.

Friendly 3-Day smiles at the 2013 Michigan 3-Day.

Well, according to the State of Friendship Report, they have come to the right place! Women and men both look for these top five qualities in a friendship: loyalty, decency, dependable in a crisis, likes me and is fun to be with. And those five qualities describe nearly every participant that I’ve met while working on the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.

Loyalty Whether loyal to a family member or friend who is struggling with the disease, or to the breast cancer cause, 3-Day participants are committed.
Decency What could be more decent than committing to walking 60 miles and fundraising to save the lives of others?
Dependability “We will never give up” is the 3-Day motto. We haven’t and we won’t.
Fun Where else can you see grown men in tutus on motorcycles to “save second base?”
Like What’s not to like about someone who will throw their heart (and soles) into the goal of eradicating breast cancer and have fun doing it?