Spring into Action: Susan G. Komen 3-Day Fundraising Ideas

As the birds begin chirping and the flowers bloom, it’s the perfect time to amplify your fundraising efforts as we gear up for the 2024 Susan G. Komen 3-Day® season. We’re dedicated to making a difference, and with spring in full swing, there’s no shortage of creative ways to rally support and raise funds. Here are some exciting ideas to get you started.

Host a Sports Tournament

With the weather warming and the sun setting later each day, it’s the perfect time for some friendly competition. Rally sports enthusiasts and philanthropists alike by hosting a tournament to raise money for the Komen 3-Day. Whether it’s basketball, golf, baseball, or pickleball, charge a participation fee or encourage teams to fundraise leading up to the event. It’s a fun and active way to raise funds while fostering camaraderie as we fight to end breast cancer.

Start with warm leads! If you go to a gym or workout class/studio, see if they would be willing to donate space/time for the venue, dependent on what kind of tournament you want to have or if you want to do a charity fitness class. Ask local clubs/organizations such as golf courses or intramural sports leagues for help to establish rules and build the tournament. This could also be a good sponsorship or in-kind donation opportunity. Be sure to advertise on social media and local online community boards, like Next Door. Also hanging flyers in local businesses or contacting local news stations to get the word out.

Suggested entry fee = $25.

Spring Cleaning Yard Sale

Turn clutter into contributions by hosting a spring cleaning yard sale! As you sift through all the things you’ve collected in the past few months, put aside anything that may be usable for someone else and host a yard sale to turn your trash into someone else’s treasure. Post on social media, hang signs around your community, and lay out all your pre-loved goods for everyone to shop through. Display information about the 3-Day® and how the proceeds will make an impact. Print signs with your QR code so people can make an additional donation if they’d like and don’t be afraid to price items higher than you normally would since it’s going to the cause!

Suggested pricing = nothing lower than $5!

Plant Flowers for a Cause

Embrace the spirit of renewal by organizing a community flower planting event. Partner with local nurseries or garden centers to source flowers and supplies, then invite participants to plant blooms in exchange for donations. It’s a beautiful way to honor loved ones affected by breast cancer while beautifying your neighborhood.

Suggested donation amount = start at $25 and go up in $10 increments based on the creation!

Mow Lawns for the Cures

Channel your inner landscaper and offer lawn mowing services for donations. Spread the word in your community and schedule mowing sessions throughout the season. Whether it’s a one-time mow or a recurring service, every grass blade trimmed brings us one step closer to a world without breast cancer.

Suggested amount = $20.

Craft Bird Feeders from Toilet Paper Rolls

Looking for an activity to do with the kids? Get crafty for a cause by transforming ordinary toilet paper rolls into charming bird feeders. Host a DIY workshop or sell pre-made feeders, complete with birdseed, at local events such as farmer’s markets. Not only will this raise funds, but it also promotes environmental awareness and provides our feathered friends with a tasty treat.

Suggested workshop fee = $20.

Organize a Neighborhood Walk

Give your loved ones a peek into the Pink Bubble with an organized neighborhood walk to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. Choose a scenic route, set a fundraising goal, and invite friends, family, and neighbors to join in solidarity. Consider incorporating pink attire or accessories to make a bold statement of support. Maybe you can even have a contest for best dressed!

Suggested donation amount = $15.

Go Door-to-Door with a Purpose

Turn a training walk into a double positive! Knocking on doors may seem old-fashioned, but it’s still an effective way to engage with your community and garner donations. Arm yourself with informational flyers, donation envelopes, and plenty of enthusiasm to share your story and spread the word about the 3-Day.

Suggested donation amount = $25.

Remember, every dollar raised brings us closer to our goal of ending breast cancer forever. With your passion, creativity and dedication, together we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by this disease. Let’s spring into action and fundraise with purpose! Do you have any unique springtime fundraising ideas? Share them to inspire the rest of the Pink Bubble.

April Pink Bubble Story of the Month: Sherrylyn R.

In 2019, Sherrylyn was 41 years old, her career was at an all-time high, and she and her partner were ready to expand their family. Eager to enter this new chapter of her life, she met with a fertility doctor who advised her to get testing done, including a mammogram. Thinking this was just another routine measure, one mammogram turned into another mammogram which led to a few ultrasounds, and eventually a mammogram biopsy. This resulted in Sherrylyn’s initial diagnosis of ADH deficiency, a hormone that regulates water balance in your body, with associated calcifications on her right breast. Her oncologist suggested an excisional biopsy, but with the holidays quickly approaching, she figured that ADH was nothing to get too worried about and scheduled the outpatient procedure for late January 2020. In the meantime, Sherrylyn’s doctor ordered an MRI for the excisional biopsy, ultimately revealing another growth on her right breast. What she originally thought was non-urgent turned into a diagnosis of stage 0 breast cancer with associated calcifications and ductal carcinoma in situ.

With this new diagnosis, Sherrylyn’s January 2020 surgery for ADH was canceled, and she was instead scheduled to consult a geneticist for genetic testing and a plastic surgeon for reconstruction. The genetic testing was negative for the BRCA gene which frustrated Sherrylyn as she thought it would be easier to decide on a bilateral mastectomy if she had the BRCA gene. With the help of her oncologist, plastic surgeon, and the support from her family Sherrylyn decided on a bilateral mastectomy for peace of mind, and reconstruction to make her feel whole again. With efficiency in mind, Sherrylyn and her oncologist agreed to schedule the surgery for April 2020 before a 10-day vacation with her partner to ensure ample time off for rest and recovery. Though her doctor agreed on her chosen date for the procedure, they insisted she not wait any longer than that. They scheduled her April surgery consisting of a biopsy and lumpectomy on her right breast followed by radiation and an antihormonal endocrine treatment versus a bilateral mastectomy.

We all know what happened in April 2020, as states shut down due to COVID-19. Sherrylyn was assured that her surgery would be performed as scheduled since it was essential, but she didn’t receive any other face-to-face time with her surgeons until the day of procedure. To make matters more complicated, her major surgery would now have to be outpatient to lessen any possible COVID-19 exposure in the hospital while recovering. She felt helpless, secluded, changed and unsure if she had made the right decisions. Some doubts would occasionally arise such as if any of her life choices would have prevented this or if she should have changed her priorities. Throughout recovery, Sherrylyn gained weight and was swollen for quite some time. To combat this, her surgeon suggested that she take more walks to heal faster and lessen swelling. With lockdown measures in full swing, she began walking around the neighborhood one block at a time until she found herself clocking three miles. She would spend this time discovering podcasts, listening to music, and searching for a community of breast cancer survivors. She eventually stumbled upon the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® and decided to commit as a 1-Day Walker in the 2021 San Diego 3-Day.

With her avid walking schedule, Sherrylyn felt prepared and secure that even if she couldn’t do the full 20 miles in one day, she would still make a difference with fundraising and advance her physical progress. At her first Komen 3-Day, she lost one big toenail because of the hills and wrong shoe choice, but she felt revived. This encouraged her to walk all three days in Chicago 2022, but after the second day, she had many blisters and changed some practices along the route for Day 3. So, when a 2-Day Walker option was offered for the 2023 Denver 3-Day, she didn’t think twice. It was the city where her best friends live and since she works on the weekends, it was much more convenient to get two days off instead of three. With three 3-Days under her belt as a 1-Day, 2-Day and 3-Day Walker, Sherrylyn advises everyone to keep walking no matter how long or short each walk is. Know your body and listen to every ache and pain; it is not giving up if you must take a break or ask for help or a ride. As far as fundraising, don’t be shy to just ask people and share why it is important for you. Her favorite way to fundraise is to give people a card with a QR code to her fundraising account and to consistently remember why we raise this money. “Breast cancer has affected many like me. But unlike me not all of them have the financial means, resources or support to beat the disease. I also believe our donations fund organizations that lead change in government policies that affect healthcare and insurance” she shared.

Each year has been a vastly different experience for Sherrylyn. In San Diego, she had a tremendous amount of fun since every street was full of support and her whole family and best friend’s family were there to meet her at the finish line. Chicago was special because of the walk along the lake, seeing Frank Gehry homes, having a walker stalker from her high school in the Philippines, and a couple of friends flew in as well. In Denver, she enjoyed walking through the beautiful neighborhoods and was supported by two of her friends from California who met with two Denver-based friends. Though each event is a different experience, it is the feelings of accomplishment and purpose that bring her back time and time again. It is a time for her to cry, laugh out loud, and reflect on the trials that she has faced brought on by breast cancer. Sherrylyn defines the Pink Bubble as “an aura of positivity from an unfortunate event that brought us together. The experience gives me space to reflect on the journey I’ve been on and the road ahead.”

Sherrylyn looks forward to walking in the 2024 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day with an official team, For the Love of ChiChi.

What it’s Like to Walk 1 or 2 Days at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®

Family obligations, coordinating days off from work, fundraising concerns, physical limitations… life comes with obstacles that may pose a challenge for some to walk 60 miles over three days. Fret not, because for the very first time at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® you have the option to walk one, two, or three days in each city! Regardless of your schedule or abilities, you can now become fully immersed in the Pink Bubble in a way that works best for you. You’ve heard stories from our Komen 3-Day Walkers, so we’ve teamed up with Elissa R. and Jenn H., 1-Day and 2-Day Walkers from the 2023 Denver 3-Day, to share what it’s like to be part of the 3-Day® for 20 or 40 miles. If you haven’t registered yet or are considering adding another city to your 2024 3-Day itinerary, these women are here to help you decide which option is best for you.

1-Day Walker: Elissa R.

Breast cancer survivor Elissa R. first participated in the 3-Day in 2018 alongside her sisters in San Diego and has walked five times since, celebrating her 20-year survivorship at the 2023 Denver 3-Day. Elissa walked all three days in 2018 then switched to walking one day in 2019 due to her walking partner’s physical limitations. Every year, they arrive early to cheer the walkers on the first or second day and do some exploring before embarking on their 20-mile journey. Though she’s not walking all three days, she still feels the power of the Pink Bubble whenever she joins the 3-Day. She describes it as a sisterhood of people who want to end breast cancer, where everyone knows someone who’s been impacted or has fought it themselves. The most powerful moment she remembers was the 2021 Closing Ceremony where she walked hand-in-hand with other survivors surrounded by a sea of supporters.

She is looking forward to walking in the New England 3-Day this year as a 2-Day Walker, an option that allows her a bit more flexibility and time within the Pink Bubble. In the meantime, she walks each day sporting her 3-Day attire which often sparks conversation amongst strangers to share their breast cancer experience, learn about the 3-Day, or inquire about donating.

2-Day Walker: Jenn H.

Jenn is a three-time 3-Day Walker who began her journey at the 2018 Philadelphia 3-Day alongside her sister. Having dense breast tissue and a family history of cancer, she walks the 3-Day while she is a healthy individual to make an impact and hopefully create a day where cancer isn’t such a debilitating diagnosis. In 2023, she chose to walk two days in Denver because it was just a short drive from her hometown in Nebraska and was unsure if she would be able to meet the fundraising requirements. Still eager to push herself, Jenn and her sister both decided to shoot for the middle of the road as 2-Day Walkers. Not only did they feel that it was the most flexible option, but it still granted them the opportunity to meet new people, hear their stories, have fun with the crew, and make an impact.

In 2024, Jenn, her sister, niece, and friend all are embarking on the Denver 3-Day as 3-Day Walkers to continue making an even greater impact. They walk to help offset any of the costs for the people who are already struggling to stay healthy and pay their regular bills while undergoing treatment. “People shouldn’t have to choose between paying their bills and getting the treatment and support they need to get better,” she shared. To anybody considering the 3-Day, Jenn provides wise words of encouragement. “It will be the best, hardest thing you’ll do. It’s hard fundraising, hard training, hard getting used to the idea of 60 miles in three days, but it’s the best time and the most fun, hard thing I have done. AND… it’s not harder than cancer.”