Participants from all over the country are training to participate in Colorado’s first-ever weekend-long Avon Walk for Breast Cancer fundraising event, coming to Denver June 25-26. Funds raised will support breast cancer initiatives across the region and nation.
Denver, CO – April 4, 2005 -- As spring weather approaches, there is still plenty of time to register and train for the
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Denver, an important fundraising event coming to the area in June. 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 that will help defeat breast cancer.
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Denver is a noncompetitive walk structured for all fitness levels. The event begins Saturday, June 25, at 6:30 a.m. at Washington Park in Denver and ends Sunday, June 26, at 4:00 p.m. at the same location.
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 Clement Park in Littleton, CO. 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 Denver, each walker is required to raise a minimum of $1,800. Historically,
walkers in other parts of the country have raised an average of over $3,000 each. 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 Denver and 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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Participants have already registered for the Avon Walk Denver from across the state and surrounding areas. 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 DENVER
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 Denver, which takes place June 25-26, 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 26, at 4:00 at Washington Park.
Currently Funded Denver-area Local Beneficiaries
of the Avon Foundation*
| Organization |
Location |
Funding mission |
| The Children’s
Treehouse Foundation |
Denver, CO |
Funds support the
development of a program training module and pilot support group for
children of women with breast cancer in the Denver area, to be expanded to
other U.S. cities in the future. |
| University of
Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center |
Denver, CO |
To support outreach
to medically underserved Latinas, including a
Mobile mammography unit, patient navigators and rehabilitative
Services for women recovering from breast cancer treatment. F
Funds also provide salary support for one senior and two junior
Investigators conducting breast cancer research |
| The Women's Center
of Larimer County |
Fort Collins, CO |
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 support four
interrelated projects focused on |
*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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