August 26, 2005 – New York, NY -- The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer national series of fundraising events will return to eight cities in 2006, including (in chronological order) Washington, DC; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Denver, CO; San Francisco, CA; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY; and Charlotte, NC. As in past years, dedicated women and men from all 50 states and outside the US will take part. The fourth season of this extraordinary event series will continue to raise awareness and funds that will benefit local, regional and national breast cancer organizations. From 2003 through August 2005, the Avon Walks have raised over $81 million, and the final events of the 2005 season are still to take place in New York and LA.

“Thanks to the support of hundreds of thousands of caring people across the country, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer events raise much-needed money for research as well as access to care, support services, diagnostics and education, with a unique focus on helping the medically underserved,” said Kathleen Walas, President of the Avon Foundation, which produces the events. “Breast Cancer affects everyone, directly or indirectly, and we’ll keep walking until we’ve won the battle and eradicated breast cancer.”

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series consists of eight events between April and October that offer 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 in the past, the average raised per walker has been nearly $3,000. Each Avon Walk attracts several thousand participants from across the U.S., including hundreds of survivors, who together form a virtual community with a shared commitment to defeating breast cancer.

The funds raised at Avon Walks are awarded by the Avon Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, for access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, encompassing five areas: breast cancer medical research, access to clinical care, support services, education, and screening and diagnostics. Beneficiaries range from local breast cancer support and care services to national research and education organizations. From 1992 through 2004, the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade raised and awarded more than $350 million in 50 countries worldwide through a variety of programs and events.

Registration is now open for all 2006 Avon Walk events. For more information or to register, volunteer or donate, visit www.avonwalk.org or call 1-800-510-WALK.

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer 2006 Cities and Dates

Washington, DC	April 29-30
Boston, MA	May 20-21
Chicago, IL	June 3-4
Denver, CO	June 24-25
San Francisco, CA	July 8-9
Los Angeles, CA	September 16-17
New York, NY	October 7-8
Charlotte, NC	October 21-22