Breast Cancer 3-Day
Cleveland July 31-August 2

As people financially feel the pinch of the economy, giving to charitable organizations has continued, a testament to the American desire to make a difference in the world. For many charitable organizations, it’s not just money that is valuable to their missions; volunteering time can have just as much an impact.

For charitable events like the Breast Cancer 3-Day, volunteers contribute to the overall success of the event which proves to be rewarding for the volunteers, too. The Breast Cancer 3-Day has seen a nationwide 15 percent increase in volunteer registrations over 2008, and volunteer positions are filling at a pace nearly two months ahead of the 2008 season.

“Volunteers are vital to the production, spirit and community of the Breast Cancer 3-Day,” said Pat Renzulli, vice president of the Breast Cancer 3-Day and National Philanthropic Trust. “Our events could not flourish or run smoothly without their time dedicated to the event. The hours they give are just as important to this event as each dollar raised—both are necessary to help us reach our goal to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease.”

Throughout the duration of the three-day, 60-mile walk, local volunteer crew members provide several essential event support services, such as medical assistance, food service, camp setup and even transportation for tired feet. The local volunteers perform tasks vital to the success of each of the 15 walks nationwide, tasks that would otherwise require paid staff, thus enabling the maximum amount of funds raised to benefit breast cancer research, education and community health programs.

Each Breast Cancer 3-Day walker commits to raising $2,300 in order to participate in the walk, and though no fundraising minimum is required of volunteer crew members, 2008 Breast Cancer 3-Day volunteers raised nearly $1.2 million.

A breast cancer survivor herself, Lauren Weaver is volunteering with her husband at the lunch stop along the route as part of the lunch crew. She is participating in the Breast Cancer 3-Day in her own and her mother’s honor, who passed away from breast cancer. Weaver subsequently tested positive for the BRCA 1 gene and says she has made it her personal mission to raise awareness and promote early detection so her daughters are not affected by the disease.

“Giving of my time is a way I can make a real difference,” said Weaver, who is a registered member of the 2009 Cleveland Breast Cancer 3-Day volunteer crew. “I dedicate four days of my life to make those walking in the event have the best experience possible. My participation allows me to know I’m doing my part to help find a cure for breast cancer.”

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. Breast Cancer 3-Day volunteer crew members like Weaver stay committed to volunteering with the hope of realizing a world without breast cancer. Crew members commit four full days to the Breast Cancer 3-Day (Thursday to Sunday) and must be 18 years or older.

To make an impact on the breast cancer movement by volunteering for the Breast Cancer 3-Day crew, visit www.The3Day.org or call 800.996.3DAY.

About the Breast Cancer 3-Day Series

Taking place in 15 cities nationwide, the Breast Cancer 3-Day® is a series of three-day, 60-mile walks that raise millions of dollars for breast cancer research, education and community health programs. Breast Cancer 3-Day participants raise a minimum of $2,300 and walk an average of 20 miles a day, educating tens of thousands of people about breast health with every step. As the primary beneficiary of the Breast Cancer 3-Day, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® receives 85 percent of net proceeds, and the remaining 15 percent goes to the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund. The Breast Cancer 3-Day is presented by Energizer. The national series sponsors are Bank of America and New Balance. Please visit www.The3Day.org or call 800.996.3DAY for more information.

The 2009 Breast Cancer 3-Day series includes events in Boston (July 24-26), Cleveland (July 31-August 2), Chicago (August 7-9), Michigan (August 14-16), Twin Cities (August 21-23), Denver (August 28-30), Seattle (September 11-13), San Francisco Bay Area (October 2-4), Washington, D.C. (October 9-11), Philadelphia (October 16-18), Atlanta (October 23-25), Tampa Bay (October 30-November 1), Dallas/Fort Worth (November 6-8), Arizona (November 13-15) and San Diego (November 20-22).

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.

Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure® and the Breast Cancer 3-Day, the organization has invested more than $1.2 billion to fulfill its promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1.877 GO KOMEN.

National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) is a public charity dedicated to providing philanthropic expertise to donors, foundations, and financial institutions, enabling them to realize their philanthropic aspirations. Founded in 1996, NPT is among the 100 fastest growing charities and one of the top 35 grant makers in the United States with $660 million in assets under management. Since its inception, NPT has raised over $1.5 billion in charitable assets, and made over 32,000 grants to U.S. and international charities totaling $900 million. NPT is led by a national board of trustees and a team of professionals with more than 200 years of philanthropic experience. For more information, visit www.nptrust.org.

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