LOS ANGELES, CA – September 7, 2003 – At the closing ceremony of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, held today at 4:00 p.m. at Universal CityWalk, Kathleen Walas, president, Avon Foundation, awarded a $1,000,000 gift to John Wayne Cancer Institute, a nonprofit center for cancer research and education, founded in 1981 by the family of John Wayne. The gift, which will support a collaborative effort with Center for Healthy Aging, a community-based organization, represents a portion of the funds raised by the walkers of the Avon Walk Los Angeles event. Additional gifts from Avon Walk funds will be announced in the future.

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Los Angeles was the seventh of eight weekend events taking place through September this year. More than 1,100 women and men took part in the event, walking 39 miles and serving as crew members to raise funds and awareness for access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer.

The Avon Walk Los Angeles began early Saturday morning, September 6 at Universal CityWalk. Until dusk, walkers traveled the route towards the Wellness Village at Woodley Park in Van Nuys, where participants camped out overnight and enjoyed relaxing and relevant activities, including yoga, massage and entertainment. The Village also provided the essentials to keep participants comfortable, including sleeping tents, hot showers, prepared meals and comprehensive medical services. A section of the Wellness Village also was open to participants’ friends and family and the general public. Today, all walkers completed the final 13.1 miles of the route, returning to their point of origin – Universal CityWalk – for the closing ceremony celebration. Throughout the weekend, a dedicated all-volunteer crew cared for the walkers, ensuring their safety and supporting their needs.

About John Wayne Cancer Institute and Center for Healthy Aging
Under the leadership of internationally recognized scientists and clinicians, John Wayne Cancer Institute is working to improve the medical management of all cancers, with an emphasis on translational research, combining scientific discovery with clinical application.

The Avon Foundation gift will support a partnership and program between John Wayne Cancer Institute and Center for Healthy Aging. This collaboration will establish education, outreach, screening, diagnostic and treatment care focused on women over 65, who have more specialized needs. Center for Healthy Aging will conduct the outreach and education, refer the older women to John Wayne Cancer Institute for possible research study inclusion and assist with follow-up services through a volunteer network.

"We are delighted to receive this generous gift from the Avon Foundation,” said Dr. Armando E. Giuliano, director of the Joyce Eisenberg Keefer Breast Center at the John Wayne Cancer Institute. "Since aging is a major risk factor for developing breast cancer, this program is so important to improving quality of life for these women. Older women often receive fewer treatment options, less than adequate care, or treatment regimens not best suited to result in cures. This funding will allow us to enhance our ability to reach these older women with access to life-saving health services and quality treatment and care.”

"Thanks to the Avon Foundation, we will have the opportunity to utilize our expertise in community outreach, education and counseling to better serve the needs of older women with breast cancer”, said Dr. Monika White, president/CEO of Center for Healthy Aging. "We are excited about the collaboration with John Wayne Cancer Institute on this important project.”

"We are pleased to provide medically underserved women, especially this mature group, in Los Angeles and throughout southern California with quality breast cancer care, treatment and support,” said Kathleen Walas, president, Avon Foundation. "For as long as there is a need, Avon is committed to funding access to care for all women and finding a cure for breast cancer.”

The Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade provides funding to breast cancer research and care organizations in Los Angeles and nationwide, such as Olive View UCLA Medical Center, Iris Cantor Breast Imaging Center at UCLA Medical Center and the YWCA of Orange County.

About the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is a series of outdoor, non-competitive fundraising events structured for all fitness levels, offering participants a choice of completing a marathon walk (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles) over a weekend. 2003 walkers are required to raise a minimum of $1,750 to participate, and are fully supported by an all-volunteer crew. 2003 national sponsors include: FIJI Water, health magazine and RYKÄ, footwear for women.

The Avon Walks are produced by the Avon Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, which also manages and disburses the funds raised. All 100% of the net proceeds from the Avon Walks are returned to the breast cancer cause nationwide to support breast cancer awareness, screening and diagnosis, treatment, support services and scientific research. Beneficiaries range from leading cancer centers to community-based non-profit breast health programs, with a focus on reaching the medically underserved and a mission to fund access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer.

For more than a decade, the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade has been raising significant funds and awareness for the breast cancer cause. In 10 years, the Avon Crusade has returned an unprecedented $250,000,000 to breast cancer research and care organizations worldwide. Funds are raised through a wide variety of special events, product sales, walks, runs, concerts and other cause-marketing initiatives worldwide.

2003 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Event Schedule (in chronological order):
 

Washington, D.C., April 26-27	San Francisco, CA, June 28-29
Boston, MA, May 3-4	Portland, OR, July 12-13
Cincinnati, OH, May 17-18	Los Angeles, CA, September 6-7
Chicago, IL, June 7-8	New York, NY, September 20-21

2004 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Event Schedule (in chronological order):
 

Washington, D.C.	May 1-2, 2004
Boston, MA	May 15-16, 2004
Chicago, IL	June 5-6, 2004
San Francisco, CA	July 10-11, 2004
Los Angeles, CA	September 11-12, 2004
New York, NY	October 2-3, 2004

To register to walk or crew, or to pledge financial support for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, visit www.avonwalk.org or call 1-877-WALK AVON for more information.

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Media Contact:
 

Susan Heaney Avon 212-282-5668

Tracey Warshaw AVON 212-282-5664

Don Rashid Stroger Hospital 312-633-7401

 Media Hotline: 1-888-AVON-411