Embracing the Pink Bubble in the Midst of Grief

Erin P. walks the 3-Day for her mother, Bernadette.

This year, Erin P. experienced the kind of heartbreak most people can’t imagine —losing both of her parents just seven weeks apart. Her father passed away first, following years of health challenges, including cancer. Her mother, Bernadette, a two-time breast cancer survivor, died shortly after.

In the midst of navigating her grief, Erin came across the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® and felt inspired to participate for the first time as a way to honor her mother’s strength and resilience amid the relentlessness of breast cancer.

“My parents were fighters. They really were,” Erin said, tears falling from her eyes. “When I saw something about the 3-Day right after my mom died, I knew I wanted to do it.”

Breast Cancer

Bernadette died from metastatic breast cancer

To understand what led Erin to the 3-Day, you have to go back to 2017. That’s when Bernadette was first diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer. She underwent a lumpectomy, followed by radiation therapy and oral chemotherapy medication.

“After that, the doctors told my mom she was cancer-free, so we marched on with our lives and everything was going so well,” Erin recalled.

Bernadette and her husband

During that time, Erin gave birth to her son, Thomas. He was her parents’ only grandson. But in 2021, Bernadette was diagnosed again, this time with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer. The treatment was grueling. Bernadette had a double mastectomy, more chemotherapy and another bout of radiation therapy which caused a painful wound.

“The burn on her chest from the radiation started off as the size of a quarter, and it kept getting bigger,” Erin explained. “My dad had to do wound care for her, and she later needed a skin graft surgery.”

Despite the physical toll, Erin and her parents moved from New York to Florida to be closer to her sister, who had recently gotten engaged. Erin said for a while, her mom seemed to be doing better. After completing treatment, her scans showed no signs of breast cancer.

Bernadette and her husband In October 2023, Erin’s parents celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary, a milestone that reflected decades of devotion, love and shared medical challenges.

But their joy was short-lived. Soon after, Bernadette received more devastating news. Her breast cancer returned and had metastasized to her bones. Despite the diagnosis, Bernadette was able to spend two more holiday seasons with her family, as well as be at her daughter, Tara’s, wedding.

Erin P. and her family celebrating Christmas before her parents died. But earlier this year, both Bernadette and her husband’s health declined, and they were hospitalized at separate times. Erin and her sister were there for each of them. In a final, tender moment, Bernadette had the chance to say goodbye to her husband before he passed away. She followed seven weeks later.

The 3-Day

The weeks that followed were filled with heavy grief for Erin, but also reflection. She organized a beautiful memorial service where she handed out pink breast cancer awareness ribbons in honor of her mom.

First-time walker Erin P. at the Denver 3-Day.

Then a few months later, she boarded a plane from Florida to the Denver 3-Day.

“I went to the 3-Day with minimal expectations, no training. I just wanted to honor my mom, and my dad too,” Erin said. “I took the extra pink ribbons I had from the memorial, and I gave them to the volunteers, crew and walkers and I told them about my mom.”

Despite a foot injury that prevented her from walking the full route, Erin was determined to finish. She walked as much as she could, and when she reached the final stretch, her son and husband were waiting to cheer her on.

“I really wanted to make sure I finished for my mom.,” she said, “I took my son’s hand, and we crossed the finish line together. It was beautiful. I was so emotional thinking about my mom and my dad and everybody who has gone through breast cancer.”

Erin P. was honored at the Denver 3-Day Celebration of Champions.

To Erin’s surprise, she was honored with the “Best Tug Your Heartstrings Story” award at the Denver 3-Day Celebration of Champions. She’s already fundraising and preparing to walk again, this time at the Tampa Bay 3-Day in 2027.

“The Pink Bubble was overwhelming in the best way,” Erin said. “I got so many hugs from strangers who are part of this big, beautiful community. I’m just so glad I jumped into the 3-Day when I needed it most.”

Donate

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.

Tampa Bay 3-Day: “Piece of the Miracle”

After less than 24 hours after the Susan G. Komen Tampa Bay 3-Day wrapped up for 2013, I heard from a participant who described her experience as a “piece of the miracle” of the Komen 3-Day. That seems to have summed up so many personal stories that combined to make the experience of the Tampa Bay 3-Day this year. From the glorious sunrise at Opening Ceremony on Friday morning to the seaside Spa Park Closing Ceremony, I witnessed one team after another and one walker after another accomplish more than they ever thought possible. A wheelchair was pushed for 60 miles. Many conquered the challenge for the first time ever, to their own amazement. So many reaffirmed their strength over past and present breast cancer.

With blue skies and a light breeze, the participants were eager to carry the banners over the bridges that dotted the course of three days. “Hope.” “My Sister.” “Optimism.” The firefighters, police, and ambulance services of Clearwater, Seminole, and Pinellas County were only a few who showed their strong support for the 3-Day®, lifting walkers into the air for photos, passing out pink Italian ice, and donning pink uniforms. So many showed their support on the final stretches of Day 1 and the cheering stations of Day 2 and Day 3.

The Camp Shows were a time to rest, to be entertained, and to be inspired. Kimberly Crist was recognized for her seven years of participation and over $69,640 raised to date for the fight against breast cancer. The crowd came to its feet with her acceptance of the Milestone Award on Friday night. Touching speeches by Elise M, Sonja A, and Charlie M, gave the Tampa Bay walkers time to reflect and be inspired by these wonderful people. Camp Show is never complete without the Youth Corps, both for their words and their dance skills. (And thank you to the brave souls who rocked the house during karaoke. You know who you are!)

After a shorter 15.3-mile third day, and after a beautiful stretch of bayside walking, an emotional Closing Ceremony at Spa Park kicked off. The faces of hundreds of dedicated walkers and crew members beamed in the afternoon sunshine surrounded by the beautiful bay. The individual stories looking back at the stage represented so many personal histories of triumph, ‘pieces’ making up the miracle of the Tampa Bay 3-Day.

Thank you Florida walkers!

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS

“Like Talking to an Angel”

Team 211 poses for a picture at the start of the Tampa Bay 3-Day

Jane stopped to talk to me on the way to the opening of Day 2 on the Susan G. Komen 3-Day^® this morning in Tampa Bay. She was part of a team of women bonded together by breast cancer survivors, friends, and one surgeon, all walking 60 miles to raise money for breast cancer research. I wanted to know more about her team and its leader, Dr. Sylvia Campbell.

Members of Team 211 attend the Opening Ceremony for the 2013 Tampa Bay 3-Day

“You know,” said Jane, “when I entered Sylvia’s office, there were pictures on the walls of breast cancer survivors, and Sylvia made it clear that she was there to give us hope. The way she talked to me…It was like talking with an angel.” I truly believed Jane as we stood there. I had worked around surgeons and doctors for many years, and my interaction with Dr. Sylvia Campbell (who prefers her patients call her ‘Sylvia’) was nothing less than extraordinary. Sylvia was dressed in a green imprinted t-shirt, decked out with the same pink accents that her teammates wore. They were all together, stage right, as the sun rose on the Tampa Bay 3-Day and its Opening Ceremony. I walked with the excited group of women (and one great guy!) as they launched themselves onto the streets of the greater Tampa Bay area on a three-day journey that would test anyone’s physical endurance.

Sylvia, however, was not surrounded by her current patients, past patients, and collected friends. She was surrounded only by friends.

Dr. Sylvia Campbell, or just “Sylvia,” is flanked by friends and teammates on the Komen 3-Day in Tampa Bay

“These wonderful people have all become so dear to me,” she smiles, as she points them out. Beverly, Jane, Sandy, Rosie, Paula, Cathy, Angie, Marvin, Bella, Marylynn, Sonja, Lauren, Janet…she names them off. She knows each one, and I start to ask about who has survived cancer, but then I realize that it doesn’t really matter. They all look wonderfully happy and that’s all that matters on such an exquisite morning among friends. “We’re Team 211!” She has to almost yell over the blaring music that pumps up the walkers continually. “Two Steps. One Goal. One Lifetime. 2-1-1. We started in 2006, and it was a way to tell people that I supported them. I support YOU!” she exclaimed as a teammate puts an arm around her.

Dr. Sylvia Campbell, a surgeon in Tampa, leads Team 211 in the fight again breast cancer

Over the next two days, I see them on the route and at the rest stops. I see them laughing together in their camp and then back on the route. All I can think about when I see them is that there is a tremendous amount of hope and happiness in the group, which has been started by Sylvia. All I can think about when I see them is how lucky they are to have her as a physician and a friend.