How Breast Cancer Research Changed a 3-Day Coach’s Life

Ann Vondriska is a breast cancer survivor and coach for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.

Terrifying. That’s how Ann Vondriska described the seven weeks it took for doctors to diagnose her with breast cancer after she discovered a swollen lymph node in 2006.

“It was terror while I waited for the results,” recalled Ann, who was 49 at the time and a mother to three children. “I did all sorts of testing. First, they thought it was brain cancer, then ovarian, thyroid, uterine, pancreatic. It was a nightmare.”

Eventually, the diagnosis was clear. It was breast cancer. Ann endured 16 rounds of chemotherapy, breast surgery and radiation over the course of a year and a half. She was also set to receive 40 more rounds of chemotherapy. But then, a call from her oncologist brought good news. Thanks to research funded by Susan G. Komen at the University of Michigan, a new treatment plan was developed for her type of breast cancer.

The new regimen meant fewer treatments. Ann now needed just one chemotherapy infusion every three weeks, cutting her original treatment schedule from 40 rounds to 14.

“It literally changed my life,” Ann said. “I had kids at home. My daughter was 8 at the time, and there was so much involved every time I had to leave the house for chemo. It was the driving there, the parking, sitting in the chair, getting hooked up to the IV and looking at everyone around you. It was a lot.”

Ann and her daughter, Elizabeth, at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day in Chicago.

Ann took another step forward in her journey in 2010 when a friend formed a team to walk in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® in her honor. “It was one of the most humbling moments of my life,” she said. The following year, Ann and her daughter, Elizabeth, joined the 3-Day themselves, and Ann didn’t look back.

Now, she’s a coach for 3-Day walkers and is dedicated to mentoring them though training for the walk, giving advice on fundraising strategies and encouraging them along the way.

Ann says being a part of the 3-Day is more than just walking—it’s about helping to support people who are navigating their own path through breast cancer and supporting the very research that saved her life.

“My job now is to pay it forward,” Ann said. “For the rest of my life I am going to fundraise, coach and support the 3-Day and Komen because it changed my life.”

The 2025 Komen 3-Day events will be held in Denver (Aug. 1-3), New England (Aug. 15-17), Dallas/Fort Worth (Oct.24-26) and San Diego (Nov. 14-16).

To register for one of the 3-Day events, visit the 3-Day.

Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their health care provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.

Denver Awaits: Join Us for the Impactful 3-Day

Blush skies over the city of Denver which hosts the Susan G. Komen 3-Day(R)

This summer, the beautiful city of Denver will be the first stop in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® series, and we want YOU to be a part of it. When you arrive on Aug. 1, you’ll be immersed in the Pink Bubble, a vibrant community well known for its spirit of hope, remembrance and celebration.

The 3-Day is an up to 60-mile journey where participants walk for themselves, for loved ones or for people they may not know but whose experience with breast cancer they want to honor.

While Denver can see temperatures in the summer reach the 90s, Nancy Partridge, a breast cancer survivor and advocacy ambassador for the Komen Center for Public Policy, says the Mile High City is the perfect backdrop for the 3-Day’s memorable experience.

“In Boulder it’s a real treat. It’s a quaint, quirky, little college town that is set up against the Flatirons, which is some of the most beautiful mountains that you will see up close and personal,” Nancy, who lived in the city for 20 years, explained. “Denver is shaded by high rises, and in Boulder, most of the route is shaded by trees. So, when you feel the sunshine on your face, it feels good.”

Nancy and her teammate, Andrea Casillas, at the Denver 3-Day.

However, with Denver’s high altitude (5,280 feet above sea level), Nancy emphasized the importance of being prepared. “It’s important for walkers to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and eat foods high in potassium like avocado and cantaloupe.”

The Denver 3-Day isn’t just about the walk; it’s also about the impact. In 2024, 700 walkers and 220 crew members gathered in Denver and raised $2.3 million to support breast cancer research, education, advocacy and patient support services. Tracey Bahlo has participated in the 3-Day more than 20 times to honor her sister, a two-time breast cancer survivor, as well as others touched by breast cancer. She says it’s an incredible experience.

Tracey Bahlo has walked the Susan G. Komen 3-Day 22 times.

“It raises money for meaningful research and support, and provides hope,” Tracey said. “Every year at the San Diego 3-Day, there’s a woman with a sign that reads, ‘People like you saved me.’ That’s why I walk.”

Whether you’re a Colorado native or visiting for the first time, the 3-Day offers a new perspective on Denver. The route highlights some of the city’s most scenic spots—from Boulder’s hilly streets to iconic landmarks like Coors Field and the famous 40-foot blue bear at the convention center.

Nancy and her friend, Kate Ahnen, who met at the Denver 3-day.

With warm weather likely in August, Tracey recommends some tips to stay cool: “Start walking early and wear a long sleeve, light weight shirt. The sun on your skin will be hotter. And don’t forget to wear an ice wrap around your neck!”

Since it began in 2003, the 3-Day series has welcomed more than 500,000 participants and raised more $915 million. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this amazing journey. Visit the 3-Day today to register for Denver!

A First-Timer’s Journey with the Komen 3-Day

Every year, new participants join the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®, and for many, it becomes more than just a breast cancer walk – it’s an unforgettable experience. Some spend months fundraising and training, while others join at the 11th hour. Regardless of when they begin, each participant quickly realizes the 3-Day is about much more than walking, it’s about being a part of a community dedicated to ending breast cancer.

Kimian Benitez is one of those new participants. She took part in her first 3-Day last fall in San Diego and walked the event solo.

“I was the team captain of myself,” she joked. “I always wanted to do it and I am so glad I did.”

The night before the event, Kimian and her husband drove to San Diego, and the next morning she began her 3-Day journey. After six miles, Kimian, who was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, found herself needing to take a break.

Kimian Benitez at the 2024 San Diego 3-Day

“I was disappointed when I got on the sweep van that took me back to the hotel, but everyone made me feel like I did great,” she recalled. “The Pink Bubble they talk about is such a positive and embracing atmosphere.”

The 3-Day’s unique and supportive environment is what keeps people like Kimian coming back. She already has plans on walking in this year’s San Diego 3-Day and is determined to walk farther than she did the first time.

“I don’t know anyone or have anyone close to me who has gone through breast cancer, but how I think about it is the money I raised and the effort I put in could go toward finding the cure, whether for me, tomorrow, or for someone I know and love,” Kimian said.

To learn more about the 3-Day or to register for an event, visit the3day.org.