60-Miles in the Windy City: The 2023 Chicago 3-Day Recap

The 3-Day headed to the Midwest and the great city of Chicago! From September 8-10, the Pink Bubble took over the Windy City to walk 60 miles over the course of three transformative days. Together, 700 walkers and 180 crew raised a total of $2.1 million for breast cancer research, community health, patient care and advocacy.

Day 1

To begin the Chicago 3-Day, walkers and crew gathered together for a touching Opening Ceremony before embarking on their 60-mile journey. The Pink Bubble filled the room with love, support, and excitement before Survivors and Thrivers led the way as walkers set out on the route. Keeping in trend with the other 2023 3-Days, Day 1 was met with rain showers for the first half of the 20-mile walk, further testing the resiliency of our incredible 3-Dayers.

Walkers mimicked the skies, opening up to those around them as they exchanged stories as to why they walk. Amongst those sharing their “why” was Christina M., a breast cancer survivor who was accompanied by nine of her close friends and neighbors who all walked in support of her for their very first 3-Day. United by their commitments to find the cures for breast cancer, all ten women walked proudly through the rain with smiles on their faces and blisters on their feet.

The skies may have been grey, but the city streets were painted pink! 3-Day walkers paraded through downtown Chicago, passing by incredible sights such as Magnificent Mile, Lincoln Park, and Wrigley Field. When walkers returned to camp, they made their way to the Celebration of Champions where Bank of America rewarded our top fundraisers with donations up to $500 to jump start their 2024 3-Day fundraising. Our top fundraiser was first-time walker Cynthia S. who raised over $30,000, also earning her the title of Rookie of the Year! Five lucky participants won $250 in a raffle toward their 2024 fundraising courtesy of Bank of America as well. With Day 1 complete, walkers rested their feet for tomorrow.

Let’s hear it for our top fundraisers!

Top Crew Fundraiser: Sara Zimmerman
Top Walker Fundraiser: Cynthia Sanders
Top Youth Corps Fundraiser: Ava H.
Rookie of the Year: Cynthia Sanders
Top Fundraising Team: Hakuna Ma Tatas
Top Fundraising Crew Team: Pit Stop 4
Small But Mighty Team: Angels 4 Angels

Day 2

With the sun high in the sky and not a cloud in sight, walkers boarded buses toward the quaint Chicago suburb of Highland Park. Walkers enjoyed a day full of tree-lined paths and the quiet comfort of the suburbs as they walked 20 miles just outside the city. Sharon S. shared her story as she walks in honor of her mother and aunts who have battled breast cancer. Her beautiful family, including her daughters, wore matching shirts and formed a mobile cheer station with other supporters. Together, they encouraged walkers and lifted the energy wherever they were spotted.

Sharon S. walks as her family members cheer her on.

Pit stop 2 was un-bee-livable! The crew was decked out in black and yellow stripes accompanied by buzzworthy décor to save the boo-bees. Walkers then flew to their next stop—the halfway mark at lunch! While seated on her Mohawk SmartCushion, one walker looked up and saw her friend who drove in from Minnesota that day to surprise her. You never know what, or who, you’ll find while walking the 3-Day!

Walkers continued on and strolled past the iconic Home Alone house. Don’t worry though, nobody was left behind! They swam over to pit stop 4 where they were met with bikini-clad crew aboard the S.S. TaTa at Lake MineTaTa before making their way back to the busses and returning to camp. The Honor Ceremony commenced with the beautiful Youth Corps who spoke as to why they participate in the 3-Day. Heartfelt speeches were given, including one by the mother-in-law of Morgan P., a 25-year-old who lost her battle with breast cancer last year, just weeks after her wedding. With hearts heavy as we were all reminded of our why, participants lined the way to the Remembrance Room with candles in honor of those who fuel their footsteps.

Day 3

20-mile walkers joined the Pink Bubble and made their way through the city on this sunny day! After a quick trip past the Chicago River, walkers found themselves surrounded by skyscrapers at Maggie Daley Park where they visited their first pit stop of the day. Some famous crew members including Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head served them snacks and refreshments to fuel their journey. Wait, Andy’s coming!

Continuing their walk through the bustling city streets, walkers breathed in fresh air as they strolled along stunning Lake Michigan. Angela E., an XPO employee and breast cancer survivor, wore their logo proudly across her shirt as she walked alongside her friend, Angie, who is also a survivor. She spoke to the importance of health equity and how incredible Komen is in expanding breast cancer research. “This is an absolutely great cause,” she stated proudly. “Thirty years ago, this crowd would have been thinned out because they didn’t have the resources that we have now, and [Angie and I] would not be standing here if it wasn’t for this.” She went on to state that equity and age, race, and socioeconomic status should not dictate one’s treatment plan, and how truly incredible this walk is. “It’s hard,” she said, “but without this I wouldn’t have had the best doctors that were available to me.”

Inspired as ever, walkers finished out their journey before returning to the hotel for the Finish Line Festival. As they paraded across the Mohawk Pink Carpet, emotion filled the room as much as the aroma of the freshly popped popcorn. Each walker made their way to the ballroom where they were greeted by Nature’s Bounty and Ready before sitting back to relax in the Bank of America massage chairs. As the last walker came in, crew lined the way to the stage before shoes were raised in the air to honor our Survivors and Thrivers. It was at this time that we learned that the 2023 Chicago 3-Day raised $2.1 million in the fight against breast cancer. What an incredible way to close out our time in the Windy City!

All in all, the Chicago 3-Day was one to remember!

Meet the 2023 Denver 3-Day Crew Impact Award Winner, Amy N.!

Meet Amy N., our Denver Crew Impact Award Winner!

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

In 2006, a few months after completing my treatment for breast cancer, I was starting to look for a way to be a part of finding the cures. I saw a commercial for the 3-Day on TV, dragged my husband, Mark, to an info meeting, and we were both hooked! Now we can’t imagine not being on event.

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

We keep coming back because the fight continues, and we must be a part of it. But equally important, it’s the people who bring us back. The first-time walkers who drag themselves into the Closing Ceremony, the young kids cheering on their loved ones, the crew going above and beyond (mostly behind the scenes) to make this an experience the walkers will never forget, and the survivors giving their all (often while still undergoing treatment themselves), so that someday others won’t have to go through this fight.

What is your favorite aspect of crewing the 3-Day?

My favorite part is being able to give back to this community whose efforts helped make it possible for me to beat this monster. Crewing is my way to say thank you to the walkers! I love being able to interact with so many people from different walks of life who are all working toward one goal.

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

Take time to soak it all in! The nature of the event is that there are a lot of “hurry up and wait” situations, but when it is go-time, the minutes and hours will fly by before you know it! At some point you will probably wonder why you got yourself into this, but then you’ll get a chance to make a difference for someone and it will all be worth it. Also, be prepared to start early in the morning.

What’s a fun fact about you?

My heart will always bleed green for Michigan State, but I live in the University of Michigan Wolverine territory, and I still proudly fly my Spartan flag! Also, I often say that I have one purpose on this earth: to make everyone around me feel tall! And I do it really, really well.

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

I’ve learned that friendships made on the 3-Day will last a lifetime. People you never would have encountered in your normal life become so important to you. You may only see them once a year, but you will pick up right where you left off last time. Obviously, this event is about beating breast cancer, but it is also about people coming together to create a community. We don’t call it the pink bubble for nothing!

Julie J. is the 2023 Denver Milestone Award Winner!

Our 2023 Denver 3-Day Milestone Award Winner is Julie J.!

Affectionately known as Alaska Julie, this is her 32^nd 3-Day over the past 14 years, raising a grand total of $90,400.13. Her friend Melissa describes Julie as “one of the most giving people that I know and my ray of sunshine when I need it. If she sees someone in need, she jumps to their aide and makes whatever they are going through just a little bit better. I love that I can call her my friend.” Her friend Heather says that Julie is “the kindest, most selfless person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing,” and that “she is always there to support her fellow 3-Dayers with words of encouragement or much needed advice.” Discover all that makes Julie an embodiment of the 3-Day.

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

In 2006, I was living in Arizona and saw a commercial for the 3-Day. At the time, I didn’t know anyone who had gone through breast cancer, so I wanted to learn more. I was at a point in my life where I needed to do something to make a difference, so I signed up to walk with a friend who later opted out. Without a walking buddy, I went to a “Get Started” meeting and met someone who told me to call Liz, her team captain. I didn’t think I could be on a team because I spent my summers in Alaska and couldn’t train with my teammates year-round, but I soon found out how wrong I was. Liz kept me engaged while I was away and when I got back to Arizona after my summer in Alaska, I met the team and walked with them for the first time. It taught me that you can be part of a team no matter how far you may be from one another. You can even be part of more than one team! I am currently on BC Babes and Team Walking On, depending on the year and city we’re walking in.

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

My first year, I said I’d do one 3-Day and be done. Boy was I wrong! The joy of walking is meeting new people and hearing their stories. I once met a woman who was walking with her drainage tubes in, and at that moment I decided I was walking until there were cures. Also, there is the joy of the “Pink Bubble” and how we are changing lives. We know that we all have a huge community to reach out to for advice, strength, prayers, laughter, and that they will let you cry in their arms.

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

Ask everyone. Ask them more than once. Think outside of the box. Living in Alaska, doing a group (team) fundraiser isn’t an option for me, so I do burlesque to earn money to go toward my fundraising goals. At the burlesque shows, they announce where my money goes and remind people to get a mammogram. Other than that, I once did a 5-mile Alaska run for women and said I would wear a full corset that I designed if I raised $100, add a wig for $150 and a tutu for $200. I raised $100 so I wore the corset for a 5-mile run, causing someone else to donate $200 because they couldn’t believe I did it! Do they not know me? Plus, I attend all the fundraising webinars that Coach Molly does and I learn something new each time I join.

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

Enjoy the journey! Talk to people to learn their why and tell them why you walk. Also, take a sweep van! You’ve already raised the money and awareness, and your goal is to walk out of the Opening Ceremony and into the Closing Ceremony. The rest is fluff. Stop and smell the roses! Participate in the evening activities, which are very fun and are a great time to meet and reconnect with walkers.

What’s a fun fact about you?

I do burlesque and I’ve swam with sea lions, even though I don’t swim. I’ve also done the Polar Bear Jump in Seward, Alaska during February, where the water temperature was warmer than the air temperature. I emcee races dressed in costumes and sing the National Anthem. In fact, I once sang the National Anthem dressed as a zombie and somebody donated $100 because they couldn’t believe I did it. Once again, do they not know me?!

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

To listen to my body and do what is needed during the walk. I know we are not alone, that each step we take and each dollar we raise is making a difference, and that each person’s journey is different. I’ve learned that I will keep walking till there is a cure. I couldn’t do the walk without the support of all those who donate and send me mail, the coaches, my amazing teammates and all those in the Pink Bubble who radiate love and energy 365 days a year.

Julie’s friend Tanya says that her “knowledge of the 3-Day, commitment to finding the cures and her eagerness to be of assistance when/wherever she is needed is truly immeasurable. Julie’ s infectious smile and upbeat demeanor portrays the epitome of the 3-Day. Sprinkle on Julie…Sprinkle on.”