Boston, MA--- More than 2,600 participants in this weekend’s Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Boston raised $6.3 million for access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer. At today’s closing ceremony at the University of Massachusetts, the Avon Foundation announced initial grants that were immediately awarded to local organizations thanks to the women and men who walked up to 39.3-miles over Saturday and Sunday.

During the Avon Walk Boston, walkers had a choice of walking a marathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles) over the weekend. The event kicked off Saturday, May 20, with an opening ceremony at the University of Massachusetts and an immediate reminder of the impact of breast cancer from speaker Judy Cherry, 59, a seven-year breast cancer survivor. Cherry, a grandmother from Stockton, NJ, began participating in Avon Walks to celebrate her five-year survival mark in 2004. This year, Cherry has committed to walking all eight Avon Walks for Breast Cancer across the country, raising nearly $15,000 and logging in over 300 miles.

As she prepared to start her second Avon Walk of 2006, Cherry spoke of how empowered she feels by the Walks as opportunities to be proactive in the fight against breast cancer.

“The day I learned my tumor was cancer, my breath went out of my body and I believed that I would die. My mind was a mess and I couldn’t even cry. The Walks remind me to keep one foot moving in front of the other and to not be paralyzed by the fear, but to go forward with hope,” Cherry said.

After Cherry’s speech, walkers began their journey with the support of a volunteer crew every step of the way. Participants spent Saturday night in two-person tents in the Avon Walk “Wellness Village” in Pine Banks Park in Malden, complete with hot showers, prepared meals, entertainment, comprehensive medical services and other special services. On Sunday, May 21, walkers completed another 13.1 miles, concluding with the celebratory closing ceremony back at the University of Massachusetts.

To participate in the Avon Walk Boston, each walker raised a minimum of $1,800 in donations, which will be managed and disbursed by the Avon Foundation [a 501(c)(3) public charity]. Funds raised by participants of the Avon Walks 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. Donations are still accepted for the Avon Walk Boston and registration is open for the rest of the 2006 Avon Walk events at 800-510-WALK or www.avonwalk.org.

ABOUT THE AWARDED GRANTS
The grants awarded at the close of the Avon Walk include the following, with additional grants to be awarded throughout the year:

Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA) received $1,000,000 to continue research and access to care programs established at the Avon Foundation Breast Center through a 2001 Avon Foundation $10 million gift.

Boston Medical Center (Boston, MA) received $675,000 for equipment and for medical research into novel new directions for breast cancer treatment and prevention. Prior Avon Foundation funding for BMC supported comprehensive breast health care programs for low-income and uninsured individuals in Boston.

Cambridge Health Alliance (Cambridge, MA) received $250,000 for support services, including staff, new equipment and materials, a patient tracking system, and transportation assistance for disadvantaged women.

Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (Lawrence, MA) received $250,000 to purchase new equipment and to support mammography technologists, patient services representatives, and program materials.

Lifespan Foundation (Providence, RI) received $250,000 for the dedicated patient navigation program for safety net care at the Lifespan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Rhode Island Hospital and Miriam Hospital, which was launched with Avon Foundation support in 2005.

Sisters of Charity Health Systems (Lewiston, ME) received $250,000 to support staff at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center to increase breast care services and outreach to the low-income and underserved in the community.

Community Servings (Roxbury, MA) received $100,000 to continue the Community Servings-Avon Foundation Door-to-Door Delivery Program that has served more than 12,000 meals to breast cancer client families over the past year.

Silent Spring Institute (Newton, MA) received $100,000 to support a program manager and assistant, dissemination and training for academic researchers, and program materials for the Massachusetts Health and Environment Information System.

ABOUT THE AVON FOUNDATION
The Avon Foundation, an accredited 501(c)(3) public charity, was founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women and their families. The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade launched in 1992, and Avon now supports breast cancer programs in some 50 countries. While advances have been made, breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide, and in the US there is a new diagnosis every three minutes. Through 2005 the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade raised and awarded more than $400,000,000 worldwide for access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, with a focus on the medically underserved. Funding supports five areas: 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, creating a powerful international network of research, medical, social service and community-based organizations focused on defeating breast cancer and ensuring access to care. For more information, visit www.avonfoundation.org.

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Boston is the second of eight noncompetitive events for women and men of all fitness levels held throughout the US. Additional Walk cities and dates include: 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; and Charlotte, NC, October 21-22.

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is generously supported by National Sponsor Prevention magazine; Official Sponsors www.ribbonofpink.com, a program of Novartis Oncology, Airplus for Her, and Reebok; Official Water FIJI; and Associate Sponsor Multiply.com.