1-2-3-4-5 Ways to Make Someone’s High Five Day Extra Special

High five, 3-Dayers! Today is National High Five Day, and while high fives happen all the time on the 3-Day, we don’t always spread that kind of love and support daily. But why shouldn’t we? Why shouldn’t that feeling of the 3-Day Bubble be one we spread every single day? It should be! So, in the spirit of 3-Day high fives and smiles, we are sharing five simple ways to make someone’s day better today.

Write someone an actual letter: No, not an email. Not a text or a call. Write a note on paper and mail it with a stamp. Snail mail is slowly (and sadly) becoming a thing of the past, so it’s even more exciting to get mail nowadays. Bonus points if you want to throw a 3-Day fundraising or teambuilding message in there too. ?
Send coffee (or wine): Thanks to e-gift cards or money transfer apps, you can send a sweet gift to your friends and family, even from a distance. Or bring it over in person! Take a break from your phones and computer, and just enjoy time together. Then, high five it out and get back to that to do list with renewed enthusiasm! It’s all about taking time to celebrate those little wins. ?
Ask them to join you for a walk! Aside from being a great way to recruit people to your 3-Day team (hint hint), this is just a great idea now that spring is here. Getting outside is always a nice change of pace, and it will allow you and your friends to spend quality time together. Feel free to high five strangers that you pass on the trail or street, too!
Volunteer: Pick your favorite local charity and give your time! Maybe it’s your local Susan G. Komen Affiliate or another nonprofit in your hometown. No effort is too small! You’ll be doing good for a whole lot of people and making that difference won’t cost you a dime. The more good we do, the more that good will spread.
Give someone an actual high five: This one should be super simple…and super obvious for this holiday! People don’t give high fives enough anymore and we are trying to bring back this simple show of support. High fives are exchanged left and right on the 3-Day, and it’s something our walkers and Crew bring up frequently. They miss all those high fives and cheers when they’re back at work on Monday! So, spread some cheer and give a high five today. ?

How do you show support in your day-to-day life? Has someone done something kind for you lately? Tell us in the comments! We want to keep that feeling of the 3-Day Bubble going all year long!

“We can do more together” Meet Lenore C., Former AVON 39 Walker

Lenore (in blue) with her teammates

This year, our 3-Dayers will see some new faces on walks across the country. That is because we are going to be welcoming walkers from AVON 39 into our pink family — and what a welcome addition they will be! Every new participant, from AVON 39 or any other source, is another warrior in our fight against breast cancer.

One new walker who has already joined the 3-Day® is Lenore C., who, along with some of her past AVON 39 teammates, will be walking the Philadelphia 3-Day. Lenore was born in Philly, and her family still lives there, so she is especially excited to be returning home for a cause she loves.

lenore walk

“I’m excited to walk for freedom from breast cancer in the town that freedom built, and to be cheered on by (sort of) a home crowd.”

And how does she feel about making the switch from the AVON 39 walk (a two-day, 39-mile breast cancer walk that ended in 2017) to our 60-mile 3-Day? She is taking the new challenge on with enthusiasm and motivation!

Lenore

“When I saw Susan G. Komen was reaching out to AVON 39-ers, I felt a kinship and felt welcome. We are all in this together, after all. I have always known we can do more together than we could ever do alone. We can cure this thing! I’m walking so that one day, soon, daughters and sons will wonder what was breast cancer the same way they wonder what the heck we’re talking about when we mention rotary phones.”

She, and three members (so far) of her team, Team Transformation, will be making the journey from New York to Pennsylvania in pursuit of this goal. They are excited to join the 3-Day family, and have already begun training and fundraising together. Lenore plans to raise at least $5,000 but secretly has a goal of hitting $7,500.

How is she working to hit that goal? She’s doing it with teamwork!

Team Transformation has been combining training and fundraising with fun, local events in their community. “Bake sale, walk. Grocery store setup, walk. Talent show, walk. Joy of Walking class then a walk.”

lenore Transformational seminar

When they can’t walk together, they even FaceTime as they train separately. Anything to keep the family feel of their team alive. If she has to walk alone, Lenore listens to audiobooks to stay motivated, and gets in training whenever she can, be it early morning, late night, or even at lunch. After years on 39-mile weekends, she knows that training will be more important than ever for the 3-Day.

She is following the “your goal will become your warm up” mentality, using social media and apps to track her training while she breaks in her walking shoes, stretches her muscles, and gets ready for one of her favorite weekends of the year.

lenore smile

She walks, and will keep walking… always. For herself, and for all the warriors and More Than Pink® people in her own life.

“Geri, my stepmom, 15 years a survivor, is More Than Pink! My mom, Jean, one of the strongest, most compassionate women I know is More Than Pink! And following their model strength, so is their daughter: I am More Than Pink! Ariel and Shya Kane, with their support for seeing the brilliance in all people, are More than Pink!”

We are so happy to welcome Lenore, Team Transformation, and all our future 3-Day family members to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day family with open arms!

Fundraising Friday: Plan a 3-Day Spring Scavenger Hunt

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It’s Friday, it’s spring, and (hopefully) the sun is shining! It’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy nature, all while raising money for the 3-Day of course! With April being Earth Month, and Earth Day coming up on April 22^nd, you can take advantage of the Mother Earth-appreciation and host an outdoor Spring Scavenger Hunt this weekend.

If you are part of a team, this is a perfect way to get your teammates together and do something fun, but if you’re a solo walker, you can also reach out to your local coaches and see if you can help plan a larger event for walkers from your area.

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The concept is simple: Meet in a local park or outdoor area, and hand out a list of spring and 3-Day themed items they must find. The catch? They must ask people for help, or ask them for the items directly (no just picking up off the ground!), and every person they talk to must receive a donation form or 3-Day business card.

Letting people know, even strangers, about your local 3-Day and your own personal goals, could result in lots of donations you wouldn’t get otherwise! You never know how someone may have been affected by breast cancer. Also, encourage your participants to stop into local businesses and spots like the library or Town Hall while they’re searching to leave a 3-Day flyer behind. You’ll cover your town in a pretty pink bubble!

How should you go about planning this event?

First, you’ll need to print donation forms where your participants can fill out their information to get donations, but also print out general “Join Me” 3-Day cards that your scavenger hunters can leave at businesses.

Next, come up with your list of spring items! Some of our ideas are:

A pink flower from a local florist
A selfie with your local barista
A piece of pink ribbon or string
A selfie with someone wearing pink
A picture of a school or local track/playground area
A photo with or of local wildlife (you can include pets if you like – and be mindful not to touch or disturb the animals)
A ticket from your local dry cleaners
A map of your town and/or local park
A picture of a pink house,door, or flower pot
A selfie with a local firefighter or policeman

Then print out your list, and start gathering your friends! Again, working with a local coach might help recruit more 3-Day walkers, but you can also use this as a fun family activity. Getting your loved ones involved in your fundraising will help you raise money, but also connect the people in your life to your 3-Day cause.

What items should we add to the scavenger hunt list? What are your spring fundraising plans? Tell us in the comments!