Congratulations to the 2017 Atlanta 3-Day Milestone Award Winner

Please join us in congratulating our 2017 Atlanta Milestone Award Winner; Christi Ann Witlberger! The Susan G. Komen 3-Day® Milestone Award is given at each event to a walker or crew member who has an outstanding history of participation in the Komen 3-Day. At the Atlanta 3-Day camp show, we presented Christi Ann with this special honor.

To get to know Christi Ann better, we asked the 3-Day community for stories about her, and the she got rave reviews!

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Her parents and fellow walkers, Carl and Colleen Ferland, have been supporting Christi Ann on her 3-Day journey for more than a decade! Both of her grandmothers had breast cancer, and so when Christi Ann got involved to help, her parents jumped at the chance to be a part of her cause.

“We own some Denny’s restaurants and she came up with the idea to place a jar at the registers to collect from our customers to help with our fundraising. This has been a huge success for us!

The employees have really gotten behind us and started having bake sales, garage sales and contests to collect the most donations. Christi has been the team captain for all these years, she has been dedicated to organizing each year’s packets to go out to all the restaurants and track the donations each week. She sends encouragement messages to the restaurants to keep the enthusiasm high. She tries very hard to keep us all straight with reminders to register and do our on-line check in by due dates and is the first one ready to catch the bus on the mornings of the walk. We are very proud of Christi’s dedication and commitment to the 3-Day!”

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Talk about being a great team player! Now let’s hear about the 3-Day and Christi Ann’s story in her own words. When we asked her these questions, she didn’t know she would soon be selected as our winner!

What was your inspiration to do your first 3-Day?

My grandmothers! Both of my grandmothers are breast cancer survivors and I felt like I could honor them by becoming a part of something that could help put an end to this disease. One night I saw a commercial on TV for the walk and I decided at that moment that this was it. I called my mom and told her WE were signing up for this. She went along with it and we just keep coming back for more and now we walk as a family: My dad, my mom and my sister walk alongside with me!!!

What has brought you back to the 3-Day year after year?

I enjoy coming back every year because I know that each and every year I walk and fundraise we are closer to a cure. I enjoy the time I get to spend with my parents and sister. The memories we make and the conversations we have are priceless and worth every blister!!!!

What is the secret to your 3-Day fundraising success?

Teamwork! I have not done this alone. Through the use of my dad’s restaurant franchise, we have been able to raise money each year for the 3-Day. Our Denny’s employees and customers are amazing and have helped us succeed each and every year.

What is your best advice to anyone walking the 3-Day?

It’s an amazing and life changing experience. Take it ALL IN. You will laugh and you will cry. You will learn a lot about yourself. You will challenge yourself and your body. When you think you can’t possibly walk one more mile, YOU CAN!!!!! The 3-Day is a family and they will be with you every step of the way!!!!!

What’s a fun fact about you?

I hate running but I am training for my second half marathon this coming March.

What are the most important lessons you’ve learned on the 3-Day?

Just keep going!!!! Carry toilet paper in your backpack 🙂 and the Grahamwiches are tha bomb!! You should have one at every Pit Stop, but beware…..they go fast!! 🙂

Fall Team Building Activities

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Fall is here, and that means these are some of your last nice weather days to get outside! Before the cold weather hits, spend time in the sun with your 3-Day teammates. Whether you’re preparing for one of our remaining 2017 3-Days, getting a jump start on your 2018 training, or just want to hold a gathering for your 3-Day friends, there’s no better time to get together. We found some fun, fall-weather-ready team building activities to make the most of the season.

The Mine Field

Find an open space, like a park! Place objects like cones, balls, chairs, etc., sporadically across the open space. Have everyone pair up, and make one person on from each pair put on a blindfold. The other person must lead their blindfolded teammate from one side of the open space to the other without stepping on the objects — using only the verbal instructions. No pulling them out of the way! Plus, the blindfolded person cannot speak at all. It’s a perfect exercise in communication, and gets all the teammates moving!

This could also be done at a pumpkin patch or corn maze, with team members guiding each other from one side to the other.

Game of Possibilities

Each person on your team picks an object out of a bag, but don’t show your teammates! One at a time, everyone has to go in front of the group and describe a use for that object. Just don’t accidentally say the name of object! The rest of the team must guess what the player is demonstrating. Pick objects that can be used on the 3-Day, like a tent or fanny pack or even pom poms!

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Masterpiece Murals

Find space outdoors and create 3-Day art! Give each member of your team a canvas and brush, and let everyone create a colorful masterpiece on their canvas. Focus on a 3-Day theme like “More Than Pink” or “Bold Goal,” and help team members create their own 3-Day mood painting. These could also be used as fundraising tools, with large donors receiving the artwork as a thank you.

Spider Web

Tie pieces of string between two trees in varying patterns. This string is the “poisonous spider web” that no one can touch. Your team must get all their members through the opening between the strings without touching it! This is a great one to host leading up to Halloween!

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Dare Jenga

While Jenga is an entertaining indoor game as well, you can now play with giant Jenga games, and take your fun outside! Start by having everyone write dares or questions on all the Jenga pieces. Make them 3-Day-themed if you can! Suggest peopole share their best fundraising tip, agree to bring treats for all the teammates’ tents on the 3-Day, or be the designated water bottle carrier for the team on event.

When all the blocks have dares or questions on them, stack them up like in Jenga. When people pull a block out, they have to perform the dare that’s written on it.

What fun outdoor activities do you have planned for the season?

3-Day September Fundraising Calendar

In September, we will be walking in the Seattle 3-Day! As fall approaches, it’s the perfect time to get in some final fundraising for your fall 3-Day, or even get a jump start on your 2018 fundraising! Luckily, we have plenty of ideas to help you get started.

First, make sure you are encouraging your donors to send you mail and sweet treats if your 3-Day is this month! They can also come cheer you on along the route! All the needed information can be found in the Spectator Info section on our website, listed here for the next two events:

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September is Better Breakfast Month and Self Improvement Month, which are great for training and fundraising ideas:

In honor of Self Improvement Month, look at what goals you have for September. Whether that includes goals for the 3-Day, or otherwise! Write down your goals for miles walked or dollars raised or local events attended and stick to it. Writing goals down can be a helpful reminder not to miss a walk or send out another round of letters!
In honor of Better Breakfast Month, get your team together for an early morning weekend walk, and then host them for a fun breakfast afterwards! Or, make easy on-the-go breakfast packs to give to donors when they hit a certain dollar amount. It was help them start the day on the sunny side.

There are some workshops happening this month. You can find the complete list on our website here. We will also be calling out more local events on our Facebook page, so keep an eye out. Also, don’t forget to follow your local coaches’ page for more information and inspiration!

Other key days this month include:

September 10: Swap Ideas Day: Fundraising is an ongoing effort, and sometimes a little creativity can help! Talk to your teammates, post on the 3-Day message boards, or ask you coaches for new ideas. We also have 101 Fundraising Ideas on our website!
September 13: Fortune Cookie Day: We hope your fortunes are always sunny and bright – and you can share the same wish with your donors! Fortune Cookies are easy to get from your local Chinese restaurant, so attach your own “3-Day Fortune” with inspiring quotes to the cookies, and drop them with your donors as a thank you! Need ideas? Check out our Inspiration Page for quotes, statistics and fun images.

September 17: National Women’s Friendship Day: You love your friends and they love you! They’re the family you choose, so reach out and remind them about your fundraising goals for this year and even next. You could get your next big donation, or even recruit a pal to walk with you on your 60-mile journey.

September 21: World Gratitude Day: “Thank you” are words you can never say enough, especially to your donors. They support you before you even attend the Opening Ceremony, and help us raise such important funds towards research and local efforts by Susan G. Komen. Remind them how important their donations are on World Gratitude Day! Thank those who have already donated, and share with those who haven’t yet, just how far their donation can go.
September 28: National Good Neighbor Day: Be a good neighbor, and help raise money for your 3-Day walk! Offer your services near your home for chores like mowing the lawn, raking leaves, cleaning windows etc. for donations. Don’t forget to wear your 3-Day pink while you work to spread awareness!

Also, make sure to join our 3-Day Social Stars! This is an easy-to-join group that’s part of our social media community, where you can earn prizes for interacting with the 3-Day on social media. Talk, connect, and share with us! You can also pick up good fundraising ideas from your fellow 3-Dayers.

Are you walking in our Seattle 3-Day? What are your fundraising and training goals for September?