Charlotte, NC-- More than 800
participants in this weekend’s Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Charlotte raised
over $1.6 million to advance access to care and finding a cure for breast
cancer. At today’s closing ceremony at Memorial Stadium, Mary Quinn of the
Avon Foundation announced four grants that were immediately awarded thanks to
the women and men who walked up to 39 miles over the weekend.
During the
Avon Walk Charlotte, 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, October 21, with an early morning opening ceremony at Memorial
Stadium and an immediate reminder of the impact of breast cancer from
Charlotte resident Lisa Hackler. A 19-year breast cancer survivor, Hackler was
diagnosed with a very rare form of stage IV breast cancer at just 25 years
old. She said while She is encouraged by how far the fight against breast
cancer has come since her diagnosis, she is even more hopeful about the future
of breast cancer thanks to her fellow walkers and volunteers.
“Because we all walked this weekend, women diagnosed with
breast cancer today have more options, and today’s 25 year olds – and 35, 45,
and 55 year olds – need not always face the same fears and insecurities that I
did,” Hackler said, “And because we all walked this weekend, so many more
breast cancer survivors will live to walk with us again.”
Following the inspiring opening, walkers began their journey, supported by
a volunteer crew every step of the way. After completing the first day of
walking either a marathon or a half marathon, participants spent Saturday
night in two-person tents in the Avon Walk “Wellness Village” at Park Road
Park, complete with hot showers, prepared meals, entertainment, and
comprehensive medical services. On Sunday, October 22, walkers completed
another 13.1 miles back to Memorial Stadium for an emotional closing ceremony.
To participate in the Avon Walk Charlotte, 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, all with a focus on the medically
underserved. Donations are still being accepted for the 2006 Avon Walk
Charlotte and registration is open for all eight 2007 Avon Walk events at
800-510-WALK or
www.avonwalk.org.
ABOUT THE NEW GRANTS
The new grants awarded by the Avon Foundation include the following:
Carolinas Medical Center (Charlotte, NC) received $250,000 to
expand Mecklenburg County Breast Care Management, a program that provides
outreach, education, screening and navigation services to underserved women
through four facilities: the Carolinas Hospital, the Blumenthal Cancer Center,
Myers Park Clinic and the Health Department Clinic.
Palmetto Health Foundation (Columbia, SC) received $250,000 to support
the purchase of a digital mammography machine for the Mobile Mammography Unit
and a program coordinator to oversee follow-up screening and the navigation of
women, primarily from Richland and Lexington Counties in central South
Carolina, to follow-up diagnostics and care.
North Carolina Baptist Hospital (Winston-Salem, NC) received $125,000
to support a new community outreach and patient navigation services program
called the Survivors in Service Navigation Network as part of the Avon
Foundation “safety net” hospital grants program. Patient navigators
will work to reduce disparities in breast care among the African-American
community in greater Winston-Salem.
Presbyterian Cancer Center (Charlotte, NC) received $125,000 for
expanded community outreach and patient navigation services for underserved
populations in Mecklenburg and eleven surrounding counties as a further part
of the Avon Foundation “safety net” program.
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 has supported 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
U.S. there is a new diagnosis every three minutes. Through 2005, the Avon
Breast Cancer Crusade raised and awarded more than $400,000,000 worldwide
to advance 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 Charlotte is the final of eight
noncompetitive Avon Walks held throughout the US in 2006 for women and men of
all fitness levels. For the 2007 Avon Walk cities and dates, or to still
donate to the Avon Walk Charlotte 2006, visit
www.avonwalk.org.
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.
