Participants from all over the Midwest and across the country are training to participate in the region’s third annual weekend-long Avon Walk for Breast Cancer fundraising event, coming to the Windy City June 4-5. Funds raised will support breast cancer initiatives across the region and nation.
Chicago, IL – April 4, 2005 -- With two months until the
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Chicago, 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 breast cancer.
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Chicago is a noncompetitive walk structured for all fitness levels and is one of eight Avon Walks this year. The event begins Saturday, June 4, at 6:30 a.m. at Soldier Field, Stadium Green, and ends Sunday, June 5, at 4:00 p.m. at the same location after covering a 39-mile route in and around the Chicago 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 Warren Park. 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 Chicago, 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 Chicago raised more than $7.4
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 Chicago and the other events of the 2005 eight-city series, they are assigned a “walker buddy” to provide them with support in their fundraising and training initiatives. Those interested in participating should call 1-877-WALK AVON or go to
http://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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Participants from across the state and surrounding areas have already registered for the Avon Walk Chicago 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.
AVON WALK FOR BREAST CANCER CHICAGO
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 Chicago, which takes place June 4-5, will be distributed to local and national breast cancer organizations. New grants to local beneficiaries will be announced at the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, June 5, at 4:00.
Currently Funded Chicago-area Local Beneficiaries
of the Avon Foundation*
| Organization |
Location |
Funding mission |
| Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern
Memorial Hospital |
Chicago, IL |
To support the construction of the Avon Foundation Breast
Cancer Research Laboratories and recipient of Avon-NCI Progress for Patients
Award (see below).
|
| John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County |
Chicago, IL |
For additional equipment acquisition and patient navigation
to increase volume of diagnostic services that can be provided and continue
highly successful program of caring for the underserved that began in 2002. |
| Cook County Bureau of Health Services |
Chicago, IL |
To provide a computer database and personnel to manage
their education, outreach and screening programs, and to
ensure that women with abnormal results are not lost to follow up. |
| The Jewish Hospital |
Cincinnati, OH |
For continuation and expansion of screening and follow-up
services delivered via the Avon Foundation funded mobile mammography van.
|
| Ohio State University |
Columbus, OH |
Recipient of 2 Avon-NCI Progress for Patients Awards (see
below) |
| Thomas Jefferson University |
Columbus, OH |
Recipient of Avon-NCI Progress for Patients Award (see
below) |
| University of Wisconsin, Madison |
Madison, WI |
Recipient of Avon-NCI Progress for Patients Award (see
below) |
| Washington University |
St. Louis, MO |
Recipient of Avon-NCI Progress for Patients Award (see
below) |
| University of Chicago |
Chicago, IL |
Recipient of Avon-NCI Progress for Patients Award (see
below) |
| Chinese American Services League, Inc. |
Chicago, IL |
Breast health education and navigation into low- and no-cost
screening services for the medically underserved. |
| Community Health & Emergency Services |
Cairo, IL |
Breast health education and navigation into low- and no-cost
screening services for the medically underserved. |
| Xilin Association |
Naperville, IL |
Breast health education and navigation into low- and no-cost
screening services for the medically underserved. |
| YWCA of Peoria |
Peoria, IL |
Breast health education and navigation into low- and no-cost
screening services for the medically underserved. |
| Cancer Services of Delaware County-Little Red Door |
Muncie, IN |
Breast health education and navigation into low- and no-cost
screening services for the medically underserved. |
| Cancer Services of Grant County, Inc. |
Marian, IN |
Breast health education and navigation into low- and no-cost
screening services for the medically underserved. |
| Southwest District Health |
Caldwell, IN |
Breast health education and navigation into low- and no-cost
screening services for the medically underserved. |
| YWCA of Greater Lafayette |
Lafayette, IN |
Breast health education and navigation into low- and no-cost
screening services for the medically underserved. |
| Mercy Medical Center-North IA |
Mason City, IA |
Breast health education and navigation into low- and no-cost
screening services for the medically underserved.
|
| Center for Breast Care |
Kansas City, MO |
Breast health education and navigation into low- and no-cost
screening services for the medically underserved.
|
| Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers Inc. |
St. Louis, MO |
Breast health education and navigation into low- and no-cost
screening services for the medically underserved. |
| YWCA of St. Joseph |
Saint Joseph, MO |
Breast health education and navigation into low- and no-cost
screening services for the medically underserved. |
| Church Health Services, Inc. |
Beaver Dam, WI |
Breast health education and navigation into low- and no-cost
screening services for the medically underserved. |
| University of Wisconsin, Center for Women's Health Research |
Madison, WI |
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 breast cancer medical education and advocacy
training to those interested in becoming patient advocates. |
| 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
http://www.avonfoundation.org/.
Contacts:
Allyson Laughlin
310.779.9855
allyson@youngnsavvy.com |
Susan Arnot Heaney
212.282.5668
Susan.Heaney@avonfoundation.org |
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