Tag Archives: Youth Corps

Congratulations to our 2023 New England 3-Day Top Fundraisers!

The 2023 Susan G. Komen New England 3-Day boasted 650 walkers and 200 crew members who collectively contributed $2.1 million in the fight against breast cancer. To wrap up Day 1, our top fundraisers were recognized Friday evening at the Bank of America Celebration of Champions. This year, Bank of America is celebrating the accomplishments of our 3-Dayers by donating a collective $42,000 to the top fundraisers to jump start their 2024 fundraising efforts. Join us in congratulating these teams and individuals for their incredible achievements and contributions! 

We kicked off the celebration by recognizing our Rookie of the Year, Marilyn M., who dove right into the Pink Bubble by raising $15,392.40. The crowd applauded her for her contributions as she posed for a picture with Bank of America’s very own Kerryn Ludwig who delivered Marilyn a $500 donation to kick off her 2024 fundraising where we hope to see her on her second ever 3-Day! 

Laura P. was then recognized as our top individual fundraiser for raising $50,784.60 and was also rewarded by Bank of America with a $500 donation toward her 3-Day fundraising in 2024. This is her third year as a walker and, in that short time, she has raised a whopping $119,148.12 toward breast cancer research and treatment.  

Mimicking the tenacity of our top individual fundraisers, our Small but Mighty Team Award was presented to Walkers for Knockers, a team of eight who together raised $45,370.84. Captained by Beth M., Walkers for Knockers proves that it doesn’t take a huge team to make a huge impact. Beth was rewarded with a $500 donation and each of her teammates received $60 courtesy of Bank of America for their 2024 fundraising efforts.  

If the 3-Day teaches us anything, it’s that teamwork makes the dream work, and that’s exactly what our top fundraising team did this year! Their first time as a team, the 18 team members of Kim’s Krusaders together raised $55,633.98 and brought the spirit of the Pink Bubble with every step they took. Their captain, Jeff C., was presented by Bank of America with a 2024 donation of $500 and each team member received a $60 donation.  

With our top fundraising walkers accounted for, it was time to congratulate our top individual crew fundraiser, Sharyn E., who raised $6,108.60 this year! Over 15 years and 33 events, Sharyn has raised a total of $92,010.57 and is on the Sweep & Shuttle team. Collectively, all 15 members of the Sweep & Shuttle Crew, captained by Ryan and Melissa A. raised $16,826.72 this year, making them the top crew fundraising team.  

It’s never too soon to start doing something good in the world and our 3-Day Youth Corps is a testimony to that fact. Our New England top youth corps fundraiser, Genevieve A., participated in her first ever 3-Day at the age of ten and was able to raise an impressive $4,544.80. Honorable mentions go to our second and third highest youth corps fundraisers Celia J. and Charlotte R. who raised $926.92 and $819.60 respectively. 

Whether you were a top fundraiser or hit your own fundraising goals for the 2023 New England 3-Day, the work that you do and the funds that you raise are ever important. On behalf of Bank of America and Susan G. Komen, thank you for all that you do to help fight breast cancer. 

The Youth Corps Experience

If you’ve participated in a Susan G. Komen 3-Day ® before, you know how impactful the Youth Corps is to the entire 3-Day experience. Getting involved in the fight against breast cancer from a young age helps secure futures for this generation and the next. We asked top 2021 Youth Corps fundraiser, Gianna K., to tell her story and what the Youth Corps means to her. 

What is your connection to breast cancer? 

Unfortunately, I’ve had a lot of family members affected by breast cancer. My mom, my three aunts, my grandma, and my two great grandmas were all diagnosed and all survived breast cancer. I want to raise money so no one else has to deal with what they went through, and so no other family has to go through what my family and so many other families had to. 

How and when did you get involved with the Susan G. Komen 3-Day ®? 

After my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, she walked her first Susan G. Komen 3-Day in San Diego to help raise money for the cause. I was there to support her when she walked in 2018 and in 2019. In 2019 I cheered her on along the route, and the atmosphere inspired me to join the Youth Corps. I wanted to be a part of the 3-Day in any way that I could. I was too young to register as a walker, but I found out that I could be part of the Youth Corps to help with this amazing cause. Everyone had so much energy and spirit and I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to help motivate and support the walkers on their 60-mile journey. 

You raised $3,547 for the 2021 3-Day. What inspired you to raise so much more than the minimum fundraising requirement? [Youth Corps members commit to raising at least $500 as part of their participation.] 

What inspired me to raise more than the minimum requirement is that I know this money helps so many people and goes towards ending breast cancer forever. Raising money is one way I can help to find the cures for breast cancer, so I want to help as much as I can. 

If someone is considering joining the Youth Corps, what words of encouragement or advice would you give them? 

If anyone is thinking about being involved with the 3-Day Youth Corps, I would 100% encourage them to join. I had so much fun and met so many new, amazing people over the three days I was there. I made lifelong friends and memories that I will never forget. It is so much fun to cheer everyone on because the walkers need our encouragement and motivation to keep them going. While cheering the walkers on, seeing their faces light up when they saw us made me realize what an impact we are having. All the walkers joined in our cheers and were so enthusiastic with us. It is an experience I will never forget, and I will never forget the feeling of making all those people so happy. 

What is your favorite part of the Youth Corps? 

My favorite part of Youth Corps was meeting new people and being able to have fun with them. We had the best time dancing to music while cheering on the walkers. We would sing, jump around and be enthusiastic together. I loved seeing how happy my friends and I made the walkers, and I know that we experienced this amazing feeling together. 

Do you plan to walk the 3-Day some day? 

I will be eligible to walk in the 2022 3-Day and I do plan on walking. Again, the atmosphere is incredible and so fun to be a part of! 

Are you interested in learning more about the Youth Corps? Do you know someone between ages 10-16 who might be interested in applying? Visit The3Day.org/youthcorps to learn more about involving the next generation in the 3-Day experience. There are a limited number of spots on the Youth Corps and we always have more interested candidates than we can accommodate, so we have an application process. Youth Corps applications are now open.

Top 20 Reasons to Commit to the 3-Day

2020 isn’t just a new year. It’s also a new opportunity to become part of something larger than yourself and make a difference that will enrich your own life, as well as the lives of those affected by breast cancer. Susan G. Komen needs each and every one of you to be a part of our 3-Day family this year!

If you need a bit more motivation to join the 3-Day community in 2020, we have a few all-encompassing reasons to #Commit3Days and join the 3-Day NOW! Here’s the breakdown…

  1. New decade, new goals: If you want to make the most of the ’20’s, completing the 3-Day is the perfect achievement to get you started on your best decade yet!
  2. Visit a new city: We are so excited to bring the 3-Day back to Chicago this September! Who’s joining us to take the Windy City by storm?
  3. Re-visit old favorites: In addition to Chicago, we’re also returning to New England, Dallas/Fort Worth and San Diego. These spots are 3-Day favorites and we can’t wait to visit them again!
  4. Tons of fun: We promise! The 3-Day is a long journey, but it is definitely a fun one that you will never forget.
  5. Get those steps in: Lots of people make a wellness goal for the new year, and the 3-Day is the perfect way to keep those resolutions. We have organized training walks and an easy app to help!
  6. Make new friends: Join a new team or expand your existing one! If you’ve walked alone before, talk with the 3-Day coaches about how to find or build a team. The 3-Day welcomes one and all!
  7. Hotel relaxation: If you didn’t love the idea of camping outdoors, that doesn’t have to keep you from joining the 3-Day anymore. Our New England, Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Days all have hotel camps for a whole new level of relaxation!
  8. Tasty treats: Hello, Grahamwiches! We love you, mac n’ cheese! And cheese sticks and fruit and chips and rice krispies and all kinds of deliciousness! Nothing motivates people quite like snacks.
  9. The 3-Day coaches: We really couldn’t do it without them! Your coaches are your cheerleaders and reference books, trainers, fundraising support group, and more!
  10. Even the kids are doing it! And by “kids” we mean the amazing Youth Corps, who support walkers and crew throughout the whole 3-Day weekend. Their spirit and smiles alone will make the 3-Day your favorite weekend of the year.
  11. Test your limits (in a good way!): It’s important to remember the whole journey, not just the final destination. This walk will test you emotionally and physically, but also give you such a feeling of joy and excitement all along the way.
  12. It’s #trending: Our Instagram and Facebook communities are their own special corners of the social media universe, full of fun and inspiration. They’ll keep the 3-Day spirit alive in your heart all year long.
  13. Dance parties: A whole weekend of them! Nothing warms the heart and spreads smiles like busting a move with your favorite people 😊 Start practicing with these tunes!
  14. A feeling of accomplishment: There truly is no feeling like crossing that 60-mile finish line and knowing that you have made an impact in the fight to end breast cancer. You have trained, fundraised, volunteered time and energy, and it all leads to that amazing moment.
  15. Serious inspiration: This experience is one of a kind! Hearing from our breast cancer survivor speakers, meeting those who have lost loved ones or been saved by Susan G. Komen funded research; all these experiences will leave you feeling motivated and inspired.
  16. Make a difference: The net proceeds raised by the 3‑Day help Susan G. Komen build a world free of breast cancer through research, community, care and action. They help fund education, screening and treatment, much of it in your local communities.
  17. You gain a new family: Being a part of the 3-Day makes you a part of our big, Pink Bubble family! You will become part of something larger than yourself and make a difference in the world.
  18. Discounted registration: You read that right! You can take $20 off your registration for the 3-Day 2020 NOW — no code needed — until January 30.
  19. You can do this! More than 500,000 participants have been a part of the 3-Day community over the years, including those living with metastatic breast cancer. Yes, walking 60 miles is hard, but it’s not as hard as breast cancer. Walk with us. You can do it.
  20. There is no time like today: Why put off to tomorrow what you could do today? If you have been thinking about joining the 3-Day or have seen walkers go by in your neighborhood for years, the time to join them is NOW. Don’t forget to sign up before January 30 for $20 off registration…and the start of your best year EVER.

What is your reason to commit to the 3-Day this year? Tell us in the comments!