The 3 Day Archives - The 3-Day Blog

A group of walkers on the route of the 2024 San Diego 3-Day.

Spring is a great time to connect with your network and ask for donations to your Susan G. Komen 3-Day® fundraising campaign. To help you gain momentum, we compiled a list of our favorite outdoor fundraising activities.

Lemonade Stand

Set up a lemonade stand at a local park or in front of your home. You can make your own lemonade or buy some pre-made. Make a sign and draw the pink breast cancer ribbon on it to attract people’s attention. When you get a customer, be sure to tell them about your 3-Day fundraising campaign and why it’s important to you. Post your lemonade stand on social media to get more customers!

Suggested price: $1 per cup

Host a Sports Event

With the warm weather and the sun setting later each day, it’s a great time for some friendly competition. Rally sports enthusiasts and philanthropists alike by hosting a tournament to raise money for the 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.

Start with warm leads! If you go to a gym or workout class/studio, ask if they would be willing to donate space/time for the venue. 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. You can also hang flyers in local businesses or contact local news stations to spread the word about your event.

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, put aside anything that may come in handy for someone else. Spread the word by posting on social media and hanging signs around your community. 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 such an important cause!

Suggested price: nothing lower than $5

Plan a Car Wash

Gather a group of friends, make some signs and spend a few hours washing cars. You can set up in the parking lot of a school or church (with permission of course!), or even on your block if you have the space. Make sure your signs indicate you’re raising money for breast cancer.

Suggested price: $15 per car

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: $25 and go up in $10 increments based on the creation!

Mow Lawns

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 mowed lawn can make a difference.

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 at farmer’s markets or other local events. 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 and fun 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

We hope these fundraising ideas help you reach your 3-Day goal. If you’re looking for more ways to solicit more donations from the comfort of your own home, take a look at these fundraising ideas.

Stay motivated, and remember, every donation brings us one step closer to a world without breast cancer.

Rachel Brown receiving her donation from Bank of America for being a top fundraiser of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.

Rachel receiving her $500 donation from Bank of America.

When Rachel Brown’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, she was immediately inspired after seeing an advertisement for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day ®, a 60-mile walk over the course of three days aimed at raising funds to help end breast cancer forever. Since then, Rachel has remained dedicated to the 3-Day, earning well-deserved recognition as a top fundraiser.

Rachel and her team, the Bouncin’ Buckeyes, have walked in the 3-Day since 2005 in various states. Rachel has completed an impressive 30 walks, often braving challenging conditions, including freezing temperatures and sideways rain in Dallas 2023, and sleeping in tents amid a rainstorm. Despite these obstacles, the team has stayed committed to supporting the 3-Day cause.

“We keep doing this because when we listen to the speakers talk about their breast cancer journeys at the opening and closing ceremonies and the walkers, it makes you realize you are making a difference,” Rachel said. “We always remember why we walk. It’s not easy to do the 3-Day, but we are really driven by wanting to make a difference.”

Rachel Brown and her team, the Bouncin' Buckeyes

Rachel and the Bouncin’ Buckeyes

To date, Rachel and the Bouncin’ Buckeyes have raised over $776,000 for the 3-Day. As an individual participant, Rachel has raised $371,461 since her first walk. Her remarkable efforts were celebrated at the 2024 San Diego 3-Day, where she was honored as the Top Individual Fundraiser at the Bank of America Celebration of Champions, earning $500 from Bank of America to support her 2025 fundraising goal.

Additionally, the Bouncin’ Buckeyes received the Small But Mighty Team Award for raising an incredible $78,500. Bank of America made a $500 donation to Rachel and her two team captains, to support their 3-Day fundraising efforts.

“When I think back to where we started and where we are now, it’s wild to see what we’ve accomplished,” Rachel said. “Receiving the Bank of America donations was awesome and really kicked-off our enthusiasm for the 2025 3-Day.”

Rachel and the Bouncin’ Buckeyes work tirelessly each year to reach their 3-Day goals. The team ranges in age from 23 to 72. Her mother, Carol, is a 20-year survivor who has walked in three 3-Days and been a crew member for 12 years. Her younger sister has also walked and crewed for the event, and her older sister supports the team at the events by making coffee runs, coordinating off-site lunches and making sure the team has everything they need to make it across the 3-Day finish line.

“There’s millions of people that could do this, but there are only thousands that will do it,” Rachel said about the 3-Day. “We are a unique and amazing group of people who do this because we want to help. If it were easy, everyone would do it.”

Rachel along the 3-Day route

Rachel says she is overwhelmingly grateful to the generous supporters who donate to her team year after year and make reaching the 3-Day fundraising goals possible.

Bank of America has been a Susan G. Komen ® partner since 2009, and serves as the National Presenting Sponsor of the Komen 3-Day ®, Race for the Cure ® and MORE THAN PINK Walk® events in the U.S. Bank of America also helps support Komen through its Pink Ribbon Banking Affinity products, which has raised over $14 million to date.

To learn more about the 3-Day visit the3day.org.

To donate to Rachel’s 3-Day fundraiser visit the3day.org/goto/rachelbrown2025.