Motivation Monday: Celebrating Women’s History Month

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March is Women’s History Month, and we have a lot to celebrate! Did you know that without women we wouldn’t have fire escapes (Anna Connelly in 1887) or computer programming (Grace Hopper in 1944)? Not to mention that Marie Curie was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics and Chemistry for her groundbreaking work, and less than fifty years later Sri Lankan stateswoman Sirimavo R.D. Bandaranaike made history, becoming the world’s first woman prime minister. Women can, and continue to rise.

In the spirit of these awesome women, and awesome women everywhere, especially those who walk, crew, and volunteer at the 3-Day, we are proud to celebrate this month.

We have some serious motivation for you this March Monday in the form of quotes about strength, love, happiness, and making a difference from some very strong women.

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“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” – Malala Yousafzai

 “Knowing what must be done does away with fear.” – Rosa Parks

 “You are the one that possesses the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness.” – Diane von Furstenberg

“My recipe for life is not being afraid of myself, afraid of what I think or of my opinions.” – Eartha Kitt

“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” – Dolly Parton

 “I hope the fathers and mothers of little girls will look at them and say ‘yes, women can.’” – Dilma Rousseff

 “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall

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“A strong woman looks a challenge dead in the eye and gives it a wink.” – Gina Carey

“When I dare to be powerful—to use my strength in the service of my vision—then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” – Audre Lorde

“The challenge is not to be perfect…it’s to be whole.” – Jane Fonda

“We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.” – J.K. Rowling

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” – Maya Angelou

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“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” – Oprah Winfrey

“No longer will we (women) agree to protect the hearth at the price of extinguishing the fire within ourselves.” – Celia Gilbert

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Why Do We Love Our Besties? We’ll Spell It Out for You!

Your best friends are the family you get to choose. They know all your secrets, were there to laugh at every embarrassing moment, and have supported you through any tough time. What better person than your bestie, then, to bring on the 3-Day with you?

In honor of best friends, the 3-Day is so excited about our “Bring Your Besties” program again this year! We want to help you, and your best friends, get off on the right foot this 3-Day season.

We want to give new participants the chance to see the 3-Day magic for the first time. And we want to give past participants the chance to relive their first 3-Day journey, this time with one of their best friends by their side. Free travel is available for any new walker who registers by April 19 with the code BYB17*

That way, no matter where they live, you can have your besties by your side!

*Visit The3Day.org/Bestie for important details about this offer.

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Need any more motivation to start recruiting your pals to walk with you? Here are a few reasons why we think nothing could be better than the 3-Day with your besties.

B … is for Being side by side with my friends as we cross the finish line after 60 miles together.

E … is for Each and Every person who has fought, or is still fighting, against cancer.

S … is for Survivors standing tall and strong, beacons of hope for those who fight.

T … is for Together we can do anything. Together we are More Than Pink.

I … is for I will not give up. You will not give up. We will never give up.

E … is for Everyone you love supporting you with donations and encouragement.

S … is for Susan G. Komen® and our shared mission to save lives and end breast cancer forever.

Your besties mean everything to you. With their help, and you by their side, let’s walk to end breast cancer forever. Visit The3Day.org/Bestie now. 

Why I’m Coming Back…

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This week, we asked our Susan G. Komen 3-Day® social media community to tell us why they will be returning to the Komen 3-Day this year. Their responses ranged from encouraging to heartbreaking, from funny to inspiring, but no matter what your reason, every story reminds us all about the importance of the 3-Day® and our part in it. It is because you keep coming back, and keep fighting, that makes you More Than Pink™.

We put some of your responses into a word cloud, and all the wonderful comments can be found in the original threads on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds. If you haven’t shared your reason yet, feel free to add on!

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Below is a selection from some of the amazing walkers who have already told us why they’re coming back…

Sarah Hillstead: I am coming back because I have to. It’s my amazing pink family!! Without my pink family I would not be the person I am today. They have seen me at my worst times and my best times. They are my family.

Sally Poag: I walk because in 2017 I will be an 8-year survivor. I made a promise to my angels, walk I must.

Stacey Hardy: I walked the last Chicago 3-Day the year I was diagnosed. I will walk the Seattle 3-Day to celebrate as a 5-year survivor!!! My 13-year-old son hopes to be in the Youth Corps and go on this journey with me!!!

Dana B. Parker: As a two-time survivor, my desire to make a difference is greater than ever. If by walking I can spare just one woman in my lifetime I will walk. My journey will not end until a cure is found.

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Sharyn Lowney Eaton: I started as a walker in 2006, later crewed Tampa and other cities, went to work for Komen as a part-time Field Coordinator for Boston, and the rest is history. My heart belongs to the Boston 3-Day and all the amazing people I’ve met in every city.
This September will be event 29 for me and I’m so excited. Who’s going to join my team, A String of Pearls, and come to Seattle!

Sandi Van Kirk: This year will be my 7th year on the medical crew. I started volunteering the year after my daughter did her first walk here in Seattle. She began walking after her mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer. Suzanne passed away 6 years after her diagnosis. She fought with courage and never let breast cancer define her.

Karen Perlstein Kaplan: I’m coming back because this is something I can do to help put an end to breast cancer. I walked 5 years and have crewed for 3. I have registered to crew in two cities in 2017. The 3-Day is like a retreat—it’s a place where everyone is kind to everyone else and we are all united for one goal.

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Dena M Groth-McLauchlin: I am coming back because of all the amazing friends I have made along the way. We are all members of the 3-Day family. We are all fighting to end breast cancer. We come back because we must continue this fight until everyone has a chance at a lifetime without cancer. My hope for 2017 is to form the first team in San Diego that consists of members from all 50 States. Please join Team Shenanigans!

Lynda DI Caro: November 2017 will be the 10th celebration of my involvement in the 3-Day. I continue to be involved because it not only brings awareness and the much-needed funding to help find a cure. And, equally important, it is three wonderful days of caring, support, respect and joy. We come together for many reasons and share a common goal. I hope for a day when we can gather for 3 days to rejoice because of a cure.

Vicki Bates Layne: I’m coming back for my 5th year. My mother and several friends lost their battle. And I know several who have won. Their struggle inspired me to fight as hard as they did and not give up until there is a cure. I have a team this year and hope to double my fundraising efforts.