Participants from all over the East Coast and across the country are training to participate in the greater metro area’s third annual weekend-long Avon Walk for Breast Cancer fundraising event, coming to DC April 30-May 1. Funds raised will support breast cancer initiatives across the region and nation.
Washington, DC - March 1, 2005 -- With almost two months until the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in DC, there’s still plenty of time to register and train for this important fundraising event. Dedicated women and men of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer are taking on the challenge to walk either a marathon or a marathon and a half to raise money and awareness for will help defeat breast cancer.
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Washington, DC, is a noncompetitive walk structured for all fitness levels and is one of eight Avon Walks this year. The event begins Saturday, April 30, at 6:30 a.m. at L’Enfant Plaza, SW, and ends Sunday, May 1, at 4:00 p.m. at the same location after covering a 39-mile route in and around the DC area.
On the first day – Saturday – participants have the choice of walking 13.1 or 26.2 miles – a half or full marathon. On Sunday, all walkers will complete another 13.1 miles, concluding with a celebratory closing ceremony that will include announcements of new local funding grants made possible by their journey.
Participants will spend Saturday night at the “Wellness Village,” their home away from home, located at Catholic University, Dufour Athletic Complex. The Wellness Village features two-person sleeping tents, hot showers, prepared meals, entertainment, volunteer massage therapy, comprehensive medical services, and other special services. Throughout the weekend, walkers are supported by a volunteer crew every step of the way, along the route and in the Wellness Village.
To participate in the Avon Walk Washington, DC, each walker is required to raise a minimum of $1,800.
Historically, past walkers have raised an average of over $3,000 each. Last year’s Avon Walk
Washington, DC, raised more than $6.2 million. Funds raised at each event are awarded to local, regional and
national breast cancer organizations to support five areas of the breast cancer cause, including awareness and
education, screening and diagnosis, access to treatment, support services, and scientific research. Beneficiaries
range from leading cancer centers to community-based non-profit breast health programs.
When participants register for the Avon Walk Washington, DC, and the other events of the 2005 eight-city series, they are assigned a “walker buddy” to provide support in their fundraising and training initiatives. Those interested in participating should call 1-877-WALK AVON or go to
www.avonwalk.org.
The complete 2005 Avon Walk series includes: Charlotte, NC (April 16-17); Washington, DC (April 30-May 1); Boston, MA (May 14-15); Chicago, IL (June 4-5); Denver, CO (June 25-26); San Francisco, CA (July 9-10); Los Angeles, CA (September 17-18); New York, NY (October 1-2).
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is generously supported by National Sponsors Novartis Oncology and RYKÄ, Official Water FIJI, and Official Sponsors Airplus for Her and Crystal Light.
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Media interested in speaking with local participants in training or local Avon Walk beneficiaries should contact Allyson Laughlin at allyson@youngnsavvy.com or call 310.779.9855.
Contacts:
Allyson Laughlin
310.779.9855
allyson@youngnsavvy.com |
Susan Arnot Heaney
212.282.5668
Susan.Heaney@avonfoundation.org |
AVON WALK FOR BREAST CANCER WASHINGTON, D.C.
BENEFICIARY INFORMATION
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series is a project of the Avon Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity with the mission to improve the lives of women, focusing on breast cancer and domestic violence (www.avonfoundation.org) . There are eight Avon Walk events slated for 2005, and funds raised will be managed and disbursed by the Foundation to support five critical areas of the breast cancer cause, including: awareness and education, screening and diagnosis, access to treatment, support services, and scientific research.
Funds raised by the participants of the Avon Walk Washington, DC, which takes place April 30-May 1, will be distributed to local and national breast cancer organizations. New grants to local beneficiaries will be announced at the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, May 1, at 4:00.
Currently Funded DC-area Local Beneficiaries of the
Avon Foundation*
| Organization |
Location |
Funding mission |
| Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
at Johns Hopkins |
Baltimore, MD |
Funds established the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast
Center, access to clinical care for the underserved, primarily
African-American populations. Recipient of 3 NCI-Avon Progress for
Patients Awards (see below) |
| Capital Breast Care Center/Lombardi
Comprehensive Cancer Center |
Washington, DC |
Created and continue to support operation
of this breast cancer clinic, offering a full range of education,
outreach, patient navigation and related services. |
| Inova Health System Foundation |
Falls Church, VA |
“Avon-Inova Cares Breast Cancer Network”
provides education, referrals for screening, follow up and treatment. |
| Howard University |
Washington, DC |
Funds support the expansion of breast
cancer clinical care among the underserved, including
education/outreach, screening, administrative personnel and computer
equipment for proper tracking of patients. |
| Food and Friends |
Washington, DC |
Avon’s Pink Ribbon Delivery Program
delivers nutritionally balanced meals and nutrition education to women
with breast cancer and their families. |
| University of Virginia, Charlottesville |
Charlottesville, VA |
Recipient of Avon-NCI Progress for Patients
Award (see below). |
| Georgetown University |
Washington, DC |
Recipient of Avon-NCI Progress for Patients
Award (see below). |
| Breast Cancer Resource Committee |
Washington, DC |
Reducing the rate of incidence and mortality from breast
cancer among African-American women through outreach, education and
support. |
| Whitman-Walker Clinic, Lesbian Services
Program Breast Health Initiative |
Washington, DC |
Breast health education and navigation into
low- and no-cost screening services for the medically underserved. |
Currently Funded National Beneficiaries Providing Nationwide Services*
| Organization |
Funding mission |
| AVONCares program of Cancer Care, Inc. |
Provide financial assistance and support
services to qualified individuals undergoing breast cancer treatment. |
Cancer and Careers
(cancerandcareers.org) |
Provide online support services for women
managing careers through treatment for breast cancer. |
| National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund |
Provide educational tools and support and
navigation services for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer, as
well as their partners/spouses. |
| Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization |
Provide educational tools and support and
navigation services for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer, as
well as their partners/spouses. |
| American College of Radiology Imaging
Network |
Funds support a national clinical trial on
the efficacy of ultrasound as a screening tool in high-risk women and a
fellowship in the subspecialty of breast imaging. |
| Avon-CDC Mobile Access Program |
Funds support multiple mobile mammography
vans that provide breast health education and screening to hard-to-reach
women in outlying, rural communities. |
| National Cancer Institute |
A $20 million gift supports phase I and II
clinical trials in breast cancer. |
| National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences |
Funds supplement the new NIEHS Breast
Cancer and the Environment Research Centers Initiative |
*These are from among hundreds of Avon Foundation-funded organizations and
institutions nationwide. For complete information visit
www.avonfoundation.org. |
