The popular Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series of fundraising events will come to eight cities in 2005, including a return to the six cities of the 2004 schedule, plus two new events.

The 2005 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer roster includes new events in Charlotte, NC, and Denver, CO along with a return for a third successful year to Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Washington, DC. The Avon Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1955, is the producer of the Avon Walks, and Avon Foundation President Kathleen Walas credits the expansion to additional cities with community support and a demand for more locations of this major fundraising event.

“The response to the Avon Walk series has been incredible, and as we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Avon Foundation we are proud to embrace even more people and cities with this extraordinary event,” said Ms. Walas, “Our participants are true heroes who walk each mile to help support access to care and finding a cure. The Avon Walks include women and men of virtually every age and fitness level, their common denominator being sheer determination to stay committed until breast cancer is eradicated.”

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series offers participants a choice of completing the distance of a marathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles) over a weekend. Each walker commits to raising at least $1,800 to participate, and the average raised per walker is nearly $3,000. In 2003-2004, Avon Walk for Breast Cancer events coast-to-coast attracted 23,000 participants from more than 40 states and Canada, who raised a total of over $60 million. The funds are awarded by the Avon Foundation for breast cancer medical research, clinical care, support services, education, and screening and diagnostics. From 1992 through 2003, the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade raised and awarded more than $300 million in 50 countries worldwide through a variety of programs and events.

To walk, crew, volunteer or donate, visit www.avonwalk.org or call 877-WALK AVON.

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer 2005