Every participant in this year’s Susan G. Komen Denver 3-Day is walking for a reason. For Colleen Code, it’s for the friendships she’s made with her fellow walkers, finding community through her two cancer diagnoses.

“It’s really like a family,” said Code, who is currently undergoing chemo. “Once you meet these people, they’re your friends for life.”

This year, Code is one of roughly 700 people walking in the Denver 3-Day to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research through nonprofit Susan G. Komen. On Saturday, the route came through Boulder for the first time, giving walkers a chance to explore the city on foot.

The Denver event is one of four Susan G. Komen 3-Day walks being held around the country this year. The 2023 3-Day series raised over $13 million.

This weekend’s 60-mile walk started in Denver on Friday, with participants taking the bus to Boulder on Saturday and walking through most of the city. It ends back in Denver on Sunday.

“Everyone was jazzed this morning about coming up here to see another part of the Denver area,” said Lori Maris, vice president of operations for Susan G. Komen and co-host of this weekend’s walk. “You’ve got the mountains, you’ve got the weather. It gives you something to look at when you’re walking 20 miles a day.”

Maris knows members of the Komen family and has participated in several walks herself. She said it’s amazing to see breast cancer survivors and patients attend the events from around the world. This year’s Denver 3-Day includes participants from California, New York and the Cayman Islands.

“We refer to it as a ‘pink bubble’ — you can’t describe it, but you can feel it. It’s just that sense of community,” Maris said.

Participants showed up in their best pink attire, from hats to tutus to pompoms. Some wore signs bearing the name of the loved one they were walking for; others carried photos.

The walk’s volunteers didn’t hold back on the pink flair, either. Tracy Drake, a medical volunteer, wore glittery pink earrings on Saturday as she helped care for walkers with blisters. Drake lives in Texas and volunteers for Susan G. Komen because her family has a strong history of breast cancer.

Boulder resident Louise Haemmerle shouted encouragement to the walkers passing by the Twenty Ninth Street mall cheering section. Haemmerle, who also volunteered for last year’s Denver 3-Day, previously walked in Philadelphia in honor of her friend’s mom.

“Once you experience this energy and all of the wonderful things that Susan G. Komen does for its walkers, I think you’re just always drawn back,” Haemmerle said.

Linda Harris was Colleen Code’s walking partner on Saturday. The breast cancer patient who initially inspired Harris to participate in the 3-Day died after their first walk together. Thirteen years later, Harris hasn’t stopped.

“I’ve been walking ever since,” Harris said. “It’s addicting.”