A Mother’s Journey from Breast Cancer to the 3-Day

Cecilia S. at the 3-Day with her family.

It’s been nearly five years since Cecilia S. was diagnosed with breast cancer at 34 while raising two young children. It became a journey that led her to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®.

Now, she is approaching a milestone she has looked forward to since her diagnosis, one that has been defined by strength and hope.

“When they say, ‘you’re a survivor,’ it’s interesting because we have no other choice,” Cecilia said. “But what’s amazing is the connection you form with other women, because without that, breast cancer can feel very isolating.”

The Diagnosis

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cecilia encouraged her sister to get a mammogram after turning 40, despite many delaying preventative care. That same night, Cecilia performed a self-exam.

“I had recently finished breastfeeding, so my breasts were like pancakes. I felt a tiny pebble close to my armpit,” Cecilia said. “So, I went to see my doctor.”

At first, Cecilia thought it might be a clogged milk duct. But after a series of ultrasounds, a mammogram and a biopsy, she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Genetic testing revealed she had the BRCA1 inherited gene mutation, which led to a pivot in her treatment plan, including a double mastectomy and 16 rounds of chemotherapy in 2022. She underwent reconstruction surgery on her 35th birthday.

Joining the Pink Bubble

Team Steps at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.

Just a few months after her reconstruction surgery, Cecilia learned one of her colleagues — a 30-year breast cancer survivor — was training for the 3-Day with other co-workers.

“They invited me to train with them and told me they were walking in my name. I went and I was shocked at how easy it was to be around women who understood what I had been though,” Cecilia said. “That’s when I knew I wanted to do the 3-Day, too.”

Although Cecilia had lived in Texas since 2017, she and her husband signed up for the 2022 San Diego 3-Day just months after she completed treatment.

“I’m originally from California. I went to college at UC San Diego and all my family is in California. The 3-Day felt like a great way to bookend my journey,” Cecilia explained. “All of my family and friends who couldn’t be physically with me in Texas had the opportunity to be there to support me.”

Cecilia walked at her own pace during her first 3-Day, and with the encouragement of her husband, her teammates and support of the medical crew for her neuropathy pain, she walked every Komen mile as a first time walker. Despite the challenges, she said she was immediately “hooked” on the Pink Bubble. Since then, Cecilia has walked the 3-Day in Denver, San Diego and Dallas/Fort Worth, and this fall she will complete her sixth 3-Day.

Cecilia and her friends at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.

The support and strength Cecilia found through the 3-Day inspired her to help other women facing breast cancer feel less alone.

“When I hear about other women diagnosed with breast cancer, I try to support them — even if it’s just a text reminding them, they aren’t alone,” Cecilia said. “I try to encourage friends and fellow breasties to join my 3-Day Team Steps because simply being there can restore hope. Standing alongside 30-and 40-year survivors is a powerful reminder that this journey doesn’t end with a diagnosis — it continues with strength, community and spreading awareness.”

Cecilia and Mary at the Susan G. Komen 3-day.

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

Cathy’s 20-Year Journey With the 3-Day

Cathy M. and her friend, Benny, who met at the Komen 3-Day in 2004.

Cathy M. has been part of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® for more than 20 years and still shows up each November ready to walk all 60 miles.

She has collected the names of 180 people impacted by breast cancer — names she now wears on a pink cape as she walks.

“The names are of people diagnosed with breast cancer, those we have lost and the names of inspiring survivors,” Cathy said. “I walk for them. The real heroes.”

Cathy first discovered the 3-Day while sitting at a traffic light in Southern California, where she watched a sea of walkers moving down the coast. Something about that moment stuck with her. Even though she didn’t yet have a personal connection to breast cancer, she felt drawn to be a part of it.

Cathy M. wears a pink cape that has names of people impacted by breast cancer.

Years later, that connection became deeply personal when her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, and Cathy wanted to offer her support.

“My sister didn’t even tell us about her cancer until after her surgery,” Cathy said. “After that, I got my rear off the couch and signed up.”

Cathy walked her first 3-Day in 2003 in San Diego at the age of 51 and hasn’t missed a year since.

Since then, she’s become a resource for “newbies” taking on the Komen 3-Day, even writing her own survival guide — playfully titled 60-Mile Walk Survival Guide From an Old Lady Walking — to pass along advice based on her experience. She shares it for free on Facebook.

“I like to think I get smarter with each event under my feet,” Cathy said with a smile. “The guide is just what has worked for me and my hope is that something in there could help the new walkers.”

Cathy M. and her team walking the San Diego 3-Team during the 2010 rainstorm.

While Cathy has never had breast cancer, she said she has spent years reflecting on what keeps her coming back to the 3-Day.

“It just puts life in perspective,” Cathy said. “It grounds me and reconnects me to the Pink Bubble. The people, the atmosphere, it’s so positive. I love meeting everyone and hearing their stories. It really is more than just a walk.”

When she’s not walking in the 3-Day, Cathy is a caregiver to her 103-year-old mother in Boise, Idaho, a role that reflects the same strength and compassion she brings to the walk every year. Her sister, Terry, is a more than 20-year breast cancer survivor, and Cathy continues to walk in her honor.

Cathy also shares her 3-Day experiences through a personal blog and has written a book inspired by her journey in the Pink Bubble. For Cathy, the 3-Day is more than an event, it’s a lifelong connection to the people and stories that continue to guide her steps.

10 Years Behind the 3-Day Camera

3-Day photographer Michael Der at the closing ceremony of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.

At the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®, participants aren’t the only ones covering miles each day. For the past 10 years, Mike D. has been right there alongside them — camera in hand, capturing the moments that define the Pink Bubble.

Walkers at the 2023 Susan G. Komen Denver 3-Day.

Year after year, Mike travels from his home base in San Francisco thousands of miles from one 3-Day city to the next. He is tasked with taking thousands of photos in hopes of capturing the moments that matter the most.

Along the way, he’s often invited into some of the most personal and emotional parts of the event.

“The 3-Day has really helped me understand participants’ perspectives and gain a sense of empathy for what they’re going through,” Mike said. “At Memorial Mile, people have asked me to take their photo while they are remembering a loved one. Even in the middle of a moment like that, they welcome me in.”

3-Day photographer Mike D. at the closing ceremony of the Komen 3-Day.

His journey to becoming such a trusted presence at the 3-Day didn’t start with a personal connection to breast cancer. Instead, it began with a willingness to step into something new.

“I have no personal connection to breast cancer,” Mike said. “I felt like maybe Komen should hire someone who has a deeper connection to it. But I’m grateful for whatever reason they chose me.”

Getting the Job Done

Working solo at the 3-Day, Mike walks each day alongside participants and logs close to 10 miles daily while carrying nearly 30 pounds of equipment.

“I usually have about five different lenses, two camera bodies and some external lighting just in case I need it,” he explained. “I’d honestly bring more if I could. I’m always thinking of ideas and ways to capture walkers in the best light.”

Traveling from city to city, Mike also has to be prepared for the unexpected, including lost luggage.

“I can lose all of my clothing and my toiletries and still do the job,” Mike said with a chuckle. “But everything I need like my hard drives, card readers, memory cards, cameras and lenses stay with me at all times.”

Beyond the Lens

For Mike, capturing the 3-Day is as much about logistics as it is about storytelling.

“I have to keep moving to follow the story of the day,” he said. “I’m shooting for the people who are there, for the people that don’t know the event exists and for the story itself. I’m balancing all these motivations at the same time.”

The constant movement and the emotional energy of the participants make the 3-Day unlike anything else he’s photographed.

“At the end of the event, my battery is depleted,” Mike said.” “But it’s such a blessing to be around the Pink Bubble energy. I’ve made friendships and connections at the 3-Day that just happened organically.”

Those connections are what stay with him long after the events end.

“People share their stories with me, even when they don’t have to,” Mike said. “It’s something I never take for granted, and it’s truly an honor to be at the 3-Day for them.”

3-Day photographer Mike D. poses with a survivor at the Komen 3-Day.

Since 2015, Mike has photographed more than 40 3-Day events. And what started as a freelance job has grown into something much more meaningful.

“The 3-Day has provided me the opportunity to grow,” he said. “I’m naturally an introvert, but this experience has pushed me in ways I didn’t expect. I’ve learned how to connect with people, even if it’s just in small moments.”

Mike photographs a wide range of events, including obstacle course races, 5Ks, marathons, weddings and portrait sessions. But he says there is nothing quite like the 3-Day.

For more information on the 3-Day, visit the3day.org.