As a walker in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure® in DC, I have been searching the message boards for any little tip or hint I could find. My team captain is a real saving grace with her emails but on the boards (doesn’t matter which location you look) you will find Mary. I was over joyed when Mary said she would be happy to answer some questions about why she walked/crewed and why her husband walked/crewed with her.
This is Mary’s Story of Why She Walked:
What is your favorite Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure® memory?
On our first 3-Day in 2000, when it was the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk, my husband was on Food Service crew. Friday afternoon he was cheering walkers as they came into camp, so he was waiting for me when I got in around 3 pm. I was so glad to see him! We hugged and talked for a bit, then he had to meet his crew before starting to serve dinner, so I made my way to our tent before going to shower. When I got there, I found that not only had he set up the tent for us, but he had also laid out my pad and sleeping bag—and left a piece of candy on my pillow! (I wish I would get this service!)
What advice would you offer to walkers?
As time has passed in 3-Day for the Cure® history, I’ve noticed that there are lots of folks out there who are training, fundraising and walking on the event, but who seem to have forgotten what the point of it all is: to raise a ton of money for breast cancer, not to meet individual wants, needs or wishes. On the message boards and on walks over the years I’ve heard so many personal gripes about so many things, such as lack of or location for parking opportunities at camp or Opening, food selections, accommodation of dietary problems, tenting with a stranger, no families in camp or holding, location of Opening, Closing or camp, no dogs or strollers on training walks, no earphones or phone calls while walking, lack of community support on the route, the route itself, having to raise the minimum or else, not-so-private showers and lots of other stuff. Most of the gripes start with “Why don’t they…?” or “Why can’t I…?” or “I raised all this money—they should… (for me).” My advice? Remember why you decided to do this in the first place, and remind yourself that it’s not about you! Keep in mind an original 3-Day for the Cure® motto: NO WHINING! Whining causes blisters!
What tips do you have for first time walkers?
New walkers need to know first off that this is not a “race.” There’s no start or finish line to cross (despite what people keep referring to on the message boards), and we all help each other so that we all get to Closing Ceremonies together. Next I’d say how important it is to ask everyone you know to donate for you—with repeated reminders—and to train consistently, joining training walks if you can. The best advice I can give though is to download and READ your handbook!! And read it over and over as the months pass. If new walkers would read the handbook a few times, they’d have a lot less anxiety because so many questions are answered there. Lastly, Larry’s Underground Guide is a must-read. It’s really funny, very informative, totally inspiring and available free on the 60-Mile Men website.
What are some of the things that members of the Crew do that walkers may not realize?
I think that some walkers aren’t aware that crew members are not hired staff. They volunteer to give up four days of their life to work long hours on the 3-Day for the Cure®, starting before dawn and finishing their day often well after lights out, their only reward knowing that they are keeping walkers as happy, healthy and safe as possible. Some walkers either don’t know or forget this, especially around camp, when they leave their towels or meal trays for someone else to pick up, bring stuff they plan to throw away on the event when they don’t need it anymore—making more trash, don’t take down their tent and just walk away on Sunday, complain about no paper in the potties, and the like. The Camp Logistics crew is way under-appreciated I think, as is Route Marking. My husband and stepson were on Route Marking in 2008 in San Francisco, and I will never take that crew for granted again! They are out the day (maybe into the night) before each walking day to mark the route. Because they are marking Saturday’s route on Friday, etc., walkers never see them and have no clue (speaking for myself prior to 2008!) what a hard job it is.
What made you decide to sit out this year?
In 2009 we crewed in the Philadelphia “1-Day” in October and I trained to walk in Denver August 28-30th while my husband was being treated for localized and non-aggressive prostate cancer all summer. He had to stay in a hotel 100 miles from home during the week for 43 radiation treatments, each lasting only 15-20 minutes, from early July until August 31st. He’d drive home on Friday pretty tired, and I’d be tired from a long training walk that day. On Saturday I’d be out for hours walking again while he would be catching up on this and that at home. We spent most of Sunday getting food ready for the week that he could cook in the microwave in his hotel room, and also just resting up. He was able to come to Closing in Denver and then went back for one last treatment on that Monday. The great news is that the cancer is gone and he’s fine. We decided not to participate in any way in 2010 just to be able to have the time together to do whatever we feel like!
Why did you start walking in the 3-Day for the Cure®?
I don’t know exactly what made me register for my first 3-Day for the Cure® in 2000 at age 55. I don’t really even like to walk, I hate to camp, and I usually don’t go around asking people for money! I think that at first it may have been a personal challenge, but I also remember that a friend and colleague was having breast cancer treatment right around when I registered. I mentioned it to her and she told me that her daughter was also doing one in another city, months before mine. So her daughter became sort of a mentor to me as far as letting me know what to expect on the event, etc. As the months passed, my training was going well and I had raised about $900 of the $1800 minimum in place then. At a certain point I remembered that my favorite teacher had died of breast cancer, back in the days when it was never mentioned, as had two friends who had died when we were in our forties. Our lives had gone in different directions, so I didn’t know either had died until after the fact. I’m one of the lucky ones–so far–to have no cancer in my family. I mentioned my husband, and he has extended family with various cancer diagnoses, but not me. I go for a mammogram every year, by now wondering if I will be like so many walkers and others I’ve met–low risk, no family history, etc., but who have had malignancies, sometimes on both sides, after age 60. So even though my “story” doesn’t include cancer personally, I know that that may not always be true. Doing that 3-Day for the Cure® and writing their names on the then-version of the Memory Tent was a form of closure for me. I raised $5600 that year, just from family, friends and people I knew, and the sense of empowerment I felt (and keep feeling) because of what I had accomplished both physically and in fundraising was mind-boggling. In seven walks I raised over $28,500. Many, many walkers have raised much more I know, but I feel very proud of that. (Mary should be proud of what she has raised, as should anyone whether you’ve just made your minimum or even if you weren’t able to make it. Ever dollar is one more than what was in the budget before you started.)
How many times have you walked/crewed?
I have done seven walks and crewed just that once last fall and know that I don’t want to walk again. My husband decided that after crewing six times and walking once, he had had enough and doesn’t plan to participate again either. He is 75 and I’m 65 this year, and we plan to leave it to the “younger” folks! I may decide to crew again sometime because this 3-Day for the Cure® thing just doesn’t seem to want to let me go, but I won’t be walking.
With no fundraising or travel expenses myself this year, I was able to donate for about a dozen 3-Day for the Cure® walkers or crew members, some whom I’ve met in person and others whose friendship I have only through the message boards. If I had to choose one to ask others to support, it would be “Pink Beard” Barry Blauer. He has participated in every walk for four or five years, and up until last year raised enough money to walk every mile in all of the cities on the calendar. Last year and this he registered for every city, but is on crew for many of them because donations are down. I’d love to see his fundraising total up in the $30,000 range again!
Mary definitely has the Keep Going® spirit. While she may not be walking/crewing this year, she is spending hours of her time supporting those that are. If you’re on the message boards give a little shout to Mary!
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