Fundraising for breast cancer research is not only a cause. It’s a promise and it’s a party.

With mottos like “Every Boob Counts,” the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day held in Seattle Sept. 11-13 was not the standard fundraising event. Teams came ready to walk for multiple days, clad in pink Mardi Gras beads, feather boas, and hot pink bunny ears.

Co-captains Bev Madan, Dottie Cornelius, and Judi Madan brought their team, Island Girls and Guys, to the 3-Day. Made of seven walkers and a lot of helpers, the team members were Paul Carrick, Annetha Caswell, Bonni Distler, Joleene Lucas, Dixie Morrison, Adrienne Vierthaler, Renee Welch, Cele Westlake, and Tammie Young.

“I just like the whole way the organization started was a promise between two sisters,” Madan said. “It’s one thing to promise and another to spend the rest of your life doing what you said you were going to do.”

The Susan G. Komen movement for breast cancer research and education began when Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan, that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer. Today, the Susan G. Komen organization is the largest grassroots fundraising network for breast cancer in the world.

“Breast cancer affects one in eight women, so it really affects everybody because everybody knows someone who has had breast cancer, so to be able to contribute in some small way is something I’d encourage people to do,” Cornelius said.

This year, the Island Girls and Guys raised $19,508 for the 3-Day, coming shy of their goal of $23,000.

Madan started walking the 3-Day three years ago.

“She talked me into it basically,” Madan said of Cornelius. “I figured the worst that could happen was I’d get in shape.”

Before the event, the 3-Day provides participants with a 16 or 24-week training program, which includes a daily exercise regimen.

Cornelius will walk for her fifth year in 2010. She said, “We usually put in over 500 miles each if we’re really good with our training.”

“It is designed so that if you never exercise they build you up to 18 miles,” Madan said. “Mainly what they want you to do is a long walk two days in a row so they know your body will recover and you’ll be able to go the next day.”

Madan’s good friend, Bridget Doran of Seattle, is a 15-year survivor of breast cancer and the inspiration for Madan to fundraise for the cause. After her initial involvement, it soon became clear to Madan how many people on Orcas Island are affected by the disease.

The Island Girls and Guys carried a banner as they walked the 60-mile route filled with the names of 35 people connected to Orcas and diagnosed with the disease.

“We just kept hearing about more and more women on the island being diagnosed, and more names came to us. People would walk up to us at the bake sale and and say ‘I’m a survivor,’” Madan said. “I’m just amazed at how many people are diagnosed, just for Orcas alone. When we left to go to the walk, another woman we knew was having a mastectomy that day.”

Cornelius appreciated the sideline cheerleading from the community as they walked from Seattle to Everett and back again. She explained that as they passed through different neighborhoods people come out to cheer them on and greet them. Some threw candy and some sprayed a cooling sprinkle of water. Also, Phil Better Bear from Ray’s Pharmacy came to greet them every day along the route.

“While you’re there, it’s three days of caring. You feel like a rock star,” said Cornelius. “People come out from the community and they’re so grateful and show their appreciation.”

One of the pre-event fundraising activities the Island Girls and Guys performed was to “flock” their supporters. The team took a flock of pink flamingo yard ornaments, dressed up them up in “stylish” clothes, and planted them in someone’s yard with a card that read “You’ve been flocked.” The card also explained their cause and why they were seeking donations. If that supporter donated to the team, they could then name the next person to be “flocked.”

The team also put on a fundraising dinner, several bake sales, and a car wash to raise funds.

“It’s an amazing cause. It’s hard to put into words the caring from people we felt,” Cornelius said. “I just think it’s something everybody should experience.”