I participate in the 3-Day for a few reasons. The first is that my great aunt passed away from breast cancer after battling it on and off since 1991. I found out that my great aunt has breast cancer again, after 15 years in remission, about 2 months before the 2012 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day - my first 3-Day. She kept such a great attitude even as she kept getting worse and worse. She passed away about a month before the 2015 3-Day, which made that walk even more important. She will forever be one of my inspirations.

The second reason I participate in the 3-Day is because of Kim Heard, the woman I am named after. She was my mom's best friend and lost her battle with breast cancer shortly after I was born. I never really got to know Kim though it is easy to see what an amazing woman she was from the legacy she left behind. She was diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer in her 30s and was taken at the age of 39. She left behind 3 young children. She lived to see myself and her nephew come into the world, before she passed. When I see how much my mom and her family miss her, I cannot help but feel the need to be a part in ending this horrible disease.

I also participate in the 3-Day for anyone who has breast cancer, has had breast cancer, or will get breast cancer. This includes an aunt I never got to know, my favorite elementary school teacher, and countless others.

I was on the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Youth Corps for 3 years in a row, starting in 2012. In 2015 I walked my first event. Since 2012, I have participated in 11 3-Days and am participating in 2 more this upcoming 3-Day season. In 2021 I was able to return to the Youth Corps, this time as a leader. The kids I worked with inspired me and reminded me why breast cancer needs to come to an end.

Please find a way to donate, either your time or money, to end breast cancer!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Kim Curtis