Before the Event
Getting ready for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure™ is a big job. Here are some ways to support your participant before the big day arrives.

• Write a letter expressing your love and support to your walker, which we’ll deliver to him/her on the event.
  Send letters to:
  3-Day for the Cure 
  ATTN: INSERT NAME OF PARTICIPANT
  P.O. Box 20027
  Piedmont, CA 94620
  Envelopes only, please. No boxes or large packages. Mail must be postmarked no later than September 21 in order to ensure delivery at the Komen 3-Day for the Cure Camp Post Office. Please note: This address is not the actual location of camp, but a PO Box for mail delivery only. Any mail that is not received by the 3-Day for the Cure by the date above or retrieved by the participant by October 17 will be destroyed.
• Organize a group to host your very own private cheering station. (Contact mjlabonge@event360.com for more information.)
• Organize a group of Camp Angels to assist participants with setting up and striking tents and unloading gear. (Contact jglassner@event360.com for more information.)
• Help raise money. Ask your participant how you can get involved in her/his fundraising plan.
• Join your participant on a training walk.

Opening Ceremony
The Komen 3-Day for the Cure begins early Friday morning with the Opening Ceremony. When you arrive, take a moment to write the names of the people in your life who have lost their lives to breast cancer on the white ribbons we will provide. Those ribbons will be used to create a special memorial flag that will be raised during the ceremony. 

This celebration is not just for participants. Friends and family are highly encouraged to attend, though please note that seating will not be available, so if you are unable to stand for 30-60 minutes, you may want to bring a folding chair. Please allow extra travel time due to expected traffic congestion at the site.

After the Opening Ceremony is over, participants will begin walking the 60-mile route and start a journey of a lifetime. It will be even more special if you are there to help send them off with smiles and encouragement. We'll also have the Shop3Day.com™ store on site if you'd like to purchase a souvenir for yourself or your participant.

Friday, October 1

Cow Palace
2600 Geneva Ave
Daly City, CA 94014

Schedule for the Day:
5:00 a.m. - Crew members should arrive.
6:00 a.m. - 6:30 a.m. - Walkers should arrive.
7:00 a.m. - Opening Ceremony begins with community stretching.

Directions:
From the Golden Gate Bridge - Follow Highway 1 (19th Avenue) past S.F. State University. Take the Cow Palace / Alemany Blvd. loop and continue to Alemany. Turn left onto Alemany and continue to Geneva Ave. Turn right onto Geneva and continue until you see Cow Palace on the right.

From Highway 101 North - Take Brisbane / Cow Palace exit, go straight to Geneva and turn left. Cow Palace is 10 blocks up on the left.

From Highway 101 South - Take Cow Palace / 3rd Street exit, immediately merge to the right of the off ramp and merge onto Bayshore. Follow Bayshore to Geneva and turn right onto Geneva. Cow Palace is 10 blocks up on the left.

From Highway 280 North - Take the Geneva / Ocean exit, and turn right onto Geneva. Continue a few miles; Cow Palace will be on the right.

From Highway 280 South - Take the Geneva / Ocean exit, and turn left onto Geneva. Continue a few miles; Cow Palace will be on the right.

Public Transportation:
Bay Area-Wide Transit Information: http://www.transit.511.org/ or dial 511 (or 817-1717) from any area code in the Bay Area counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) - http://www.bart.gov/ or 510-465-2278

Golden Gate Transit - http://www.goldengate.org/ or 415-455-2000

SamTrans/CalTrain - http://www.caltrain.com/ or 800-660-4287

Municipal Railway (MUNI) - http://www.sfmuni.com/ or 415-673-6864

Cheering Stations
Public cheering stations are a great way to show your support along the route to encourage
walkers and let them know that you are with them every step of the way. Seeing familiar faces cheering them on can provide that extra burst of energy that gets them to take that next step or go the next mile. Create banners, hold up signs, bring some music and make some noise - anything to make them smile, get energized and keep walking.

Cheering Station locations will be posted approximately 2 weeks prior to the event.

On some portions of the route you may find some areas that are deemed “quiet zones” which will be indicated by signage on the route. Please assist us in respecting our neighborhoods and communities during this time

Camp
Our campsite is meant to be a special place for your participants to relax, reflect and bond with the 3-Day for the Cure community. To help us maintain a safe, secure and organized campsite for your loved ones, we ask that you respect our “no visitors” policy. Also, if you wish to call your walker or crew member on their cell phone, please do not call after 9:00 p.m. “lights out,” when camp is a quiet zone.

While at Home
Capture the 3-Day for the Cure in the news: While walkers are taking steps to end breast cancer, save any media coverage of the 3-Day for the Cure. Aside from being a nice addition to your participant's 3-Day for the Cure memorabilia, it will show his/her impact on the community.

Engage the kids in the cause: Since holding down the fort may include taking care of the kids, you can make this time meaningful by connecting them with the breast cancer cause.

• Have them create signs or decorations if they are able to go to a cheering station.
• Have them create a welcome home banner.
• Give them journals so they can write or draw what they’ve been doing for three days.
• Have them plan a welcome home meal or put together a care package with goodies, movies, comfy slippers, etc.
• Use this as an opportunity to talk to your kids about community, helping others and making a difference in the world.

Closing Ceremony
After three days and 60 miles, participants will take a final and incredibly emotional victory walk into the Closing Ceremony. Friends, family and supporters should arrive at the Closing Ceremony site at least one hour early to get the best view of the program. We encourage you to carpool or take public transportation. Not only is it better for the planet, but it will help lessen traffic congestion for everyone.

All walkers and crew members should remain in the Participant Holding Area where they will receive a victory shirt, cheer on fellow walkers and crew members and celebrate one last time together before their dramatic victory walk. The Participant Holding Area is CLOSED to spectators. If you wish to meet with a participant before the Ceremony begins, please have them meet you at the Closing Ceremony site. All participants must return to the Holding Area no later than 4:30 p.m. in order to join the victory walk.

Don't forget to continue the spirit of kindness we'll be building on the 3-Day for the Cure throughout and beyond the Closing Ceremony!

Sunday, October 3
5:00 p.m.

Marina Green
310 Marina Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94123

Friends and family are highly encouraged to attend, though please note that seating will not be available, so if you are unable to stand for 30-60 minutes, you may want to bring a folding chair.

Directions:
From the East Bay - Take the Bay Bridge to Fremont Street Exit; on Fremont (100 yards north) take first right on Howard; turn left on Embarcadero and go 2 miles; turn left on Bay and go 2 miles; turn right on Fillmore. Marina Green is at Fillmore and Marina Blvd. Street parking is available throughout the area.

From the North Bay - Take the Golden Gate Bridge (US 101) to Marina Exit; take Marina Boulevard (1.5 miles) to Fillmore. Marina Green is at Fillmore and Marina Blvd. Street parking is available throughout the area.

From the Peninsula/South Bay - Take US 101 North to 9th Street Exit; take 9th across Market and turn left on Hayes; turn right on Franklin; turn left on Bay; turn right on Fillmore. Marina Green is at Fillmore and Marina Blvd. Street parking is available throughout the area.

Public Transportation:
Muni Lines Near Marina Green: 10 Townsend, 22 Fillmore, 28 - 19th Avenue, 30 Stockton, 47 Van Ness, 49 Van Ness/Mission. Call MUNI for details (see below).

Bay Area-Wide Transit Information: http://www.transit.511.org/ or dial 511 (or 817-1717) from any area code in the Bay Area counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) - http://www.bart.gov/ or 510-465-2278

Golden Gate Transit - http://www.goldengate.org/ or 415-455-2000

SamTrans/CalTrain - http://www.caltrain.com/ or 800-660-4287

Municipal Railway (MUNI) - http://www.sfmuni.com/ or 415-673-6864

After the Event
Your participant has participated in two emotional celebrations, a challenging 60-mile journey and a life-changing experience in just three days. Now, it’s time to go back home. Here are some tips on how to help your walker make a smooth transition back to their daily routine.

• Have a welcome home meal prepared and make it an evening of rest and relaxation.
• Encourage your participant to share the 3-Day for the Cure experience.
• If you can’t attend the Closing Ceremony, be sure to ask how much money was raised!
• Unpack, clean and put away gear.
• Share the newspaper articles or news footage that you’ve collected over the weekend.
• The following day, give your participant a massage or schedule a day of pampering at a spa.
• In the days to come, help your participant write thank you notes.
• Print pictures and assemble a scrapbook.
• Help your participant plan a reunion party to keep in touch with other walkers.
• Get ready to do it all over again! Maybe you’ll be joining the 3-Day for the Cure in 2011!