Why I love The 3 Day

I realized in blogging these past couple weeks that sometimes I assume all my followers just know what is in my head. If only it was that easy. But do I really want you in my head all the time?? No thanks! I assume you understand the content I share, and sometimes don't make time to tell the story. One of my favorite stories is the story of how I found my way to The Susan G Komen 3 Day!

Once upon a time there was a girl who felt lost in dance classes and homework. It was me, I was the lost mama! As much as I fully love my babies and doing all the things they ask of me I was feeling a little less full of purpose than I wanted to. My mother in law Lori had been battling her own breast cancer and I was trying to stay informed and find more ways of getting involved with the fight against breast cancer. I work in sales so listening to books on tape, now known as audio books, was something I did a lot. I had picked up Nancy Brinker's audio book Promise Me. If you have not read it and you are a reader, please add this to your reading list. Nancy tells the story of her sister Susie's life and courageous battle against breast cancer. The book also has a lot of history and information about the strides that cancer research has taken over the years. In this book a woman shares her story about walking in The 3 Day. I was overwhelmed by the way she describes the "pink bubble". How do I get in this bubble? Like most things today the story led me to google which led me to The 3 Day website. Right away I knew the event was for me! There were tutus, face paint, and TONS of people hugging. If you don't know this about me, I LOVE hugs! So with Lori's support that I walk for her, I registered for the 2017 Susan G Komen 3 Day in Michigan. And so it began!

So here is what you need to know about The 3 Day. I am sure you have heard of Susan G Komen but for the sake of sharing real information and making you a tad more informed I will give a short lesson. Susan G Komen the world's largest national nonprofit source of funding for the fight against breast cancer. Started in 1982 they have invested $2.9 billion in research, education, community outreach, and advocacy. I can very easily say that I am so damn thankful for every one of those dollars because they are giving me more time with my babies. Nancy Brinker started the company after promising her dying sister that she wouldn't stop fighting for a cure. Since then Komen has been pioneering the way for growth in the breast cancer community. Their efforts have helped reduce deaths due to breast cancer by 40% between 1989-2016. Can I get an amen? As an organization they host tons of different kinds of events that fuel the funds that are saving lives. One of them being The 3 Day.

The 3 Day is a 3 day, 60 mile journey that is taken on by the community of walkers who are committed to funding the fight against breast cancer. By registering you are committing to not only walking 20 miles a day for 3 days in a row but you're also committing to raise $2,300 by the time the event rolls around. These walkers are so passionate and so creative! People sell goods, baking things, do raffles, host exercise classes, and continue to promise to walk until a cure is found. I have met young children volunteering because their mom or grandma is a survivor but then then you also meet people who are walking just because they think it is the right thing to do! Its so humbling to witness. The 3 Day is a whole weekend of "pink bubble" love.

I went to my first 3 day solo. I had dragged my whole family along with me to Michigan but I did not know one walker going into the opening ceremony! I was greeted within 15 minutes of slapping on a "first time walker" button and swept away to meet Beth. Oh Beth, an earth angel by definition, is the captain of the BC Babes. If you have been to a 3 day event before you have met a babe. The Babes are made up for countless men and women from all over the United States that always represent and spread the pink bubble love in all cities every year! Most years we also have "7 city walkers' ' which are walkers who walk all events and raise $2,300 for each city. Talk about passion. So I was introduced to Beth and the babes and I did not spend another minute alone all weekend. These women took me under their wings and showed me how to have the best 3 day experience a girl could ask for and I was hooked! You spend the weekend walking and talking! You pee in porta potties, and drink so much water you think you might float away! I thought writing a post about The 3 Day would be easy. I love the event and all parts of it! But words just do not do it justice! I am at a loss. The experience is just so powerful you have to come along to see!

But I will try and share my favorite part! Camp! Camp is "home base" of the 3 day. It's where you shower, it's where you eat, and where you meet the people that make up the 3 day. Its where you are welcomed back after a long and hot 20 miles. It's the space up ahead of you that causes tears to well up in your eyes as you finish your walk for the day. It's where you pick up rewards for the successes you had fundraising. The celebration that ends a day after a big plate of famous 3 day mac and cheese. As you can see, it's a place to love. And grow. And meet new friends. And most of all, it's a place where you are reminded just why you started walking. And where you will keep coming back to until the cure is found.

Since my first walk I have raised $20,000 (in 5 years) and walked 3 events in the Michigan area. (2020 took walk number 4 for me and 2021 is still TBA) In 2018 I was privileged to walk with Lori and Heather (sister in law) just 4 short weeks after giving birth to my third daughter Willow. In 2019 I dragged along my friend Rachelle and was able to share my passion with more of my home community! 2021 has good hopes of having lots of my friends and supporters around me as I move into a new phase of 3 day love. I am hopeful for an in person event and pink bubble love helping me complete my own breast cancer journey. There is no other group of people I would rather be with when being welcomed into the world of survivorship. It is a true honor to be on this path.

If you would like to donate to my fundraising please visit my 3 day site at www.the3day.org/goto/emilywolfe or check out my facebook page! I am doing cookie fundraisers regularly! And if you haven't heard... I make really good sugar cookies!!

A friend recently reminded me of a quote that hasn't crossed my path in a while… "God saves his toughest battles for his strongest warriors''. I am not sure I would have called myself a warrior before but I am starting to learn it's okay to use strong and powerful words to describe yourself. Xoxo