When Loretta E. started her Susan G. Komen 3-Day^® journey in 2006, she didn’t set out to become one of the largest fundraisers in the event’s history. But that’s exactly what happened. 

Loretta joined the 3-Day in honor of her mother, Beverly, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 shortly after turning 60. Beverly underwent a mastectomy but later died in 2007 due to complications from metastatic breast cancer. Since then, Loretta has walked at least one 3-Day city every year — except for the year her father passed away. 

To date, Loretta has raised more than $706,100 for the 3-Day, and says she’s determined to reach her next goal of $1 million. 

The ‘Breast Cancer’ Lady  

Loretta attributes her longstanding 3-Day fundraising success to three things: the unwavering support of her coworkers, their unique work environment on Alaska’s North Slope and her company’s matching gift program. 

For nearly 40 years, Loretta has worked at Prudhoe Bay, located 200 miles above the Arctic Circle at the largest oil and gas field in the United States. Much of her career has been spent working 14-day shifts, side-by-side with colleagues who became more like family than coworkers. 

“When we are at work, we don’t get weekends or holidays. We spend a lot of time together, and over the years have grown very close,” Loretta explained.  

Over time, her ties to the 3-Day, her mother’s breast cancer journey and her fundraising efforts led to a nickname and widespread support of her fundraising efforts.  

“One day a man walked up to me in the snack line at work and with tears in his eyes asked, ‘Are you the breast cancer lady? My wife was just diagnosed with breast cancer,’” Loretta said, overcome with emotion.  

Her coworkers came to her not just to donate, but to ask questions, share their fears and look for guidance when they didn’t know where else to turn. Loretta said she feels humbled that her coworkers trusted her, leaned on her and rallied behind her fundraising efforts year after year.

Why She Keeps Going 

That support is also why Loretta hasn’t slowed down. This year, she’s walking in her 21st event at the San Diego 3-Day. 

“I’ve set my fundraising goal at $1 million for Komen,” Loretta said. “But honestly, I don’t know when I will stop participating in the 3-Day because I have no desire to. I love the community, the camaraderie and meeting first-time walkers and hearing their inspiration for walking. 

Even after all this time, Loretta said she still gets emotional when she receives a donation from new and unexpected donors. Their generosity reminds her of why she started walking and inspires her to continue to show up year after year. 

“There is no way you would have the empathy that I have today if I had not gone through what we did with my mom being diagnosed, treated and then her death,” Loretta said. “And there would be no way that I would have raised this amount of money.” 

To learn more about the 3-Day, visit the3day.org.