Susan G. Koman 3 day event Volunteer Opportunty

By Wendy Bumgardner

About the Events: The Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure Walks are challenging and exciting events held in multiple US cities each year to benefit breast cancer causes. Walkers are challenged to walk approximately 20 miles a day for 3 days. They camp out each night in a tent city. All meals, snacks, and trail support are provided. Each walker must raise a minimum of $2300 in donations to participate.

Dates and Locations:
Atlanta Oct. 18-20, 2013, Oct. 17-19, 2014
Tampa Bay Oct. 25-27, 2013 | no walk in 2014
Dallas/Fort Worth Nov. 1-3, 2013, Nov. 7-9, 2014
Arizona Nov. 8-10, 2013 | no walk in 2014
San Diego Nov. 15-17, 2013, Nov. 21-23, 2014
Michigan Aug. 15-17, 2014
Twin Cities Aug. 22-24, 2014
Seattle Sep. 19-21, 2014
Philadelphia Oct. 4-6, 2013, Sept. 12-14, 2014
Washington, DC Oct. 11-13, 2013 | no walk in 2014

There will be no walks in 2014 in these former locations:
San Francisco Bay Area
Boston
Cleveland
Chicago

Registration: The registration fee is $90. Register online or by mail. Once registered you will receive your training packet and be assigned to a coach. Orientation sessions are held in the walk cities, and walk training groups are held in many locations. The event is open to both men and women, age 16 and above. Minors must participate with their parent or legal guardian.
Registration

All walkers are required to have health insurance during the event.

Donations: Each walker must collect $2300 in donations in order to participate. Donations may be collected by cash, credit card, or check. Each participant can set up a personal web page on the 3-Day Walk site to make it easy to collect donations online. Walker coaches provide advice on how to host a fundraising party and how to ask for donations. The Susan G Komen for the Cure organization disburses the funds to worthy breast cancer charities.

Training: Walking for 20 miles a day for three days is a very challenging endurance event. Proper training is necessary, similar to training to walk a marathon. The Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure provides training advice, group training walks, and a coach to assist walkers in their training and in selecting the right clothing, shoes, and gear.
Training Schedule for a 3-Day Walk

Walking the Event: The event provides full support during the walk - marked trail, stops every 2-3 miles for water, sports drink, snacks. Lunch on the route. First aid and blister care. Sweep vans patrol the route looking for walkers who need assistance. Walkers may end their day's walk at any of the stops along the way and be taken to camp. There is no penalty for failing to complete the total distance each day, and for safety's sake people should not overextend themselves.

Camping: Each day ends at camp where hot showers and a hot meal are provided. Walkers are assigned to 2-person tents. Each walker provides his/her own sleeping bag and pad. Clothing and gear are transported for the walkers, but there are weight limitations. Each evening there is entertainment. Walkers are encouraged to stay at camp rather than arrange other accommodation.

Crew: The event depends on volunteer crew members to support the walkers in everything from setting up the camp, serving the walkers at the stops on the route, marking the route, serving meals, patrolling the route, etc. Crew members also register for $90 and are provided the same meals and camping accommodations as the walkers.

Charity: Eighty-five percent of the net proceeds from the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure Walks goes to the foundation activities, building awareness and raising funds for breast cancer research and community outreach programs since 1982. Fifteen percent of the net proceeds benefit the National Philanthropic Trust (NPT). These funds will establish the NPT Breast Cancer Fund, which will provide long-term support for breast cancer initiatives including research, treatment, prevention and education.

Step By Step on a 3-Day Walk:

I walked two 3-Day Walks - in Washington DC and in Seattle and crewed once in Seattle. Each is a treasured experience. These are by far the best organized walking events I have done, and the spirit is incredible.

http://walking.about.com/od/breastcancerwalks/p/bc3day.htm