Boston --- More than 2,800 participants in this weekend’s fifth annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Boston raised $6.7 million to advance access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer. At today’s Closing Ceremony at the University of Massachusetts, Avon Foundation Executive Director Carol Kurzig announced the following seven initial grants:

Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Comprehensive Cancer Center (Boston, MA) will receive $3,250,000 to support breast health, access to care, community education and patient navigation programs for safety net care through the three external clinics of MGH and the Avon Breast Center at MGH ($400,000); to support on-going research and clinical trials ($600,000); and to launch the International Breast Cancer Research Center and Metastatic Tumor Bank, a major multi-million dollar, multi-year initiative ($2,250,000). This International Center will be the first of its kind that will collect and study metastatic breast cancer and will be shared with international participants and U.S. institutions.

Boston Medical Center - Boston University (Boston, MA) will receive funds for three projects totaling $1,600,000. Funds will continue to support the Avon Breast Health Initiative at Boston Medical Center (BMC), which has emerged as a national model for the use of patient navigation services. To date, BMC has provided navigation to over 1,700 low income, high risk and primarily minority women. Additional funds are provided this year to launch two national studies to examine the most effective roles of patient navigation and, once completed, to bring this information to the national level to support federal reimbursement for patient navigation services.

Lifespan Foundation (Providence, RI) will receive $250,000 to continue, further develop and implement and evaluate a bi-lingual breast health patient navigation program for safety net care at the Lifespan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Rhode Island Hospital and Miriam Hospital. Funds will continue to support two Patient Navigators, Bilingual Navigator Assistant and Data Manager.

Cambridge Health Alliance (Cambridge, MA) will receive $230,000 to further develop the screening and diagnosis components of its comprehensive breast health services for underserved women by providing staff and program support to fully implement its patient tracking systems; outreach to the community; develop capacity in the mammography department; and establish a new screening program for high risk women.

Community Servings (Roxbury, MA) will receive $200,000 to continue the Community Servings-Avon Door-to-Door Delivery Program, which serves thousands of meals to breast cancer client families and educates hundreds on proper nutrition during cancer treatment. Funding will also support a Program Coordinator, Nutritionist and Client Services Coordinator.

Silent Spring Institute (Newton, MA) will receive $175,000 to continue to support the Institute; update the MassHEIS environmental information system; and analyze other ongoing clinical prevention trials to study gene-environment interactions.

BayState Health, Inc. (Springfield, MA) will receive $150,000 to support the comprehensive delivery of quality medical services to uninsured and underserved women. Funds will also support a Clinical Nurse and Community Health Worker, as well as client transportation and educational materials.

About the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
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 19, with an early morning Opening Ceremony at the University of Massachusetts, which included an immediate reminder of the impact of breast cancer through the remarks of breast cancer survivor Patty Matthews.

In 2005, at 34 years old, Patty was still nursing her newborn when she went to see her doctor for what she thought was a clogged milk duct. Unfortunately, doctors diagnosed her with an aggressive form of breast cancer that had to be treated with three times the normal dosage of chemotherapy. The diagnosis and the chemo did not stop her from her goal of walking her first Avon Walk, where she wanted to complete at least a mile. Instead, she inspired everyone by completing five miles and standing and cheering in every single walker. This year is Patty’s third Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

“I plan to walk every year for both my daughter and yours,” Matthews said. “This event is for all the mothers, daughters and everyone touched by breast cancer.”

Following the inspiring Opening Ceremony, walkers began their journey, supported by a volunteer crew every step of the way. After completing the first day of walking, participants spent Saturday night in two-person tents in the Avon Walk “Wellness Village” at Prowse Farm in Canton, MA, complete with hot showers, prepared meals and live entertainment. Sunday, May 20, walkers completed another 13.1 miles, ending back at the University of Massachusetts where they were greeted by thousands of family and friends who shared in a celebratory and moving Closing Ceremony.

To participate in the Avon Walk Boston, each walker raised a minimum of $1,800 in donations, which is 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 Avon Walk Boston, and registration is still open for women and men to take part in the remaining Walks of 2007: Chicago, IL (June 2-3); Denver, CO (June 23-24); San Francisco, CA (July 7-8); Los Angeles, CA (September 15-16); New York, NY (October 6-7); and Charlotte, NC (October 20-21).

To register, donate or for additional information, please visit www.avonwalk.org or call 800-510-WALK.