Volunteers Essential to Breast Cancer 3-Day Success

Michael Langowski of Chicago is one of those dedicated individuals. Four years ago he and his wife, Monica, decided it was time to give back to the community in some way. They saw a posting for crew members on the Breast Cancer 3-Day and signed up. During their three days on crew they hauled luggage, picked up tired walkers and stood in the rain getting camp ready for participants. Although it was hard work with little sleep, the people they met and the stories they heard made the rain-soaked clothes and long hours seem easy to handle. They were hooked. Ever since 2004, it is a weekend that is booked on their calendars far in advance. They look forward to every year to see walkers they’ve befriended, meet new people and hear more stories.

In 2007 more than 4,000 men and women around the country volunteered as crew members, and they were more than just helping hands. The crew, while not required to do any fundraising for the event, raised more than $1.3 million benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure^® and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund for breast cancer research, education, and community outreach programs.

“The crew is the backbone of the Breast Cancer 3-Day,” said Pat Renzulli, vice president of the Breast Cancer 3-Day with National Philanthropic Trust. “They work long and hard from sun up to sun down ensuring the event runs seamlessly, and they still find the energy to cheer on the walkers. The event is made better because of these individuals.”

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 being a member of the Breast Cancer 3-Day crew, contact [email protected] or 800.996.3DAY.

About the Breast Cancer 3-Day

Taking place in 14 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 outreach programs. Breast Cancer 3-Day participants raise a minimum of $2,200 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. National sponsors for the 2008 Breast Cancer 3-Day series are New Balance, Pepperidge Farm and LaCroix. Please visit www.The3Day.org or call 800.996.3DAY for more information.

The 2008 Breast Cancer 3-Day series includes events in Chicago (Aug. 8-10), Boston (Aug. 15-17), Cleveland (Aug. 22-24), San Francisco Bay Area (Sept. 5-7), Seattle (Sept. 12-14), Twin Cities (Sept. 19-21), Michigan (Sept. 26-28), Washington, D.C. (Oct. 3-5), Philadelphia (Oct. 17-19), Atlanta (Oct. 24-26), Tampa Bay (Oct. 31-Nov. 2), Dallas/Fort Worth (Nov. 7-9), Arizona (Nov. 14-16), San Diego (Nov. 21-23).

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure

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 nearly $1 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.

About National Philanthropic Trust

National Philanthropic Trust (NPT), the event manager, 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 largest charities and one of the top 35 grant makers in the United States with $710 million in assets under management. Since its inception, NPT has raised over $1.3 billion in charitable assets, and made over 25,000 grants to U.S. and international charities totaling $650 million. NPT is led by a national board of trustees and a team of professionals with more than 100 years of philanthropic experience. For more information, visit www.nptrust.org.