New York, October 7, 2007 --- More than 3,900 participants in this weekend’s fifth annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer New York raised $10.2 million to advance access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer. Avon Walk New York participants came from 46 states throughout the US and seven countries, as far away as Turkey, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Spain and Iceland. Iceland’s team, “Walk Together,” included 23 members who raised over $42,000. In addition, breast cancer survivors from nearly 50 countries representing the Avon Walk Around the World for Breast Cancer manned a cheering station in support of the walkers.

At today’s Closing Ceremony at Hudson River Park’s Pier 84, Avon Foundation Executive Director Carol Kurzig announced ten initial grants, with millions more slated to be awarded throughout the year. The initial grants are:

• Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund (New York, NY) will receive $6,855,000 to be disbursed as grants to 130 non-profit Community Based Organizations across the country for education and outreach programs nationwide. These programs will collectively navigate 100,000 women next year into mammography screening and will educate 500,000 others on breast health and the importance of early detection.
• Cancer Care (New York, NY) will receive $1,235,000 to continue the AVONCares program, which is a national financial assistance program that helps low-income, underserved women gain access to care. The program launched in 2000 and has already assisted 34,000 women fighting breast cancer.
• New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center - Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (New York, NY) will receive $1,000,000 to continue support of access to care through the Avon Breast Imaging Center and research through the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Research Laboratories. NYPH provides a point of access to mammography screening for underserved women in the Washington Heights neighborhood. The Cancer Center also conducts cutting edge research and allows the opportunity for uninsured or underserved women to receive the most modern breast cancer treatment through access to clinical trials.
• New York University Cancer Institute-Bellevue Hospital Center (New York, NY) will receive $500,000 to continue to support a program to meet the needs of underserved breast cancer patients, largely from Latina and Chinese populations, as well as a study and survivor program minorities and medically underserved women.
• God’s Love We Deliver (New York, NY) will receive $250,000 to continue meal delivery service to breast cancer client families, which have supported over 28,000 meals to date. The funds will also support the “Avon Foundation Nutritionist” position and Client Service Outreach Associates, as well as translation and printing of a Spanish version Nutritional Tips for Breast Cancer Patients.
• Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center- NYCHHC (Bronx, NY) will receive $250,000 to improve program outreach, screening and follow up for women living and working in the South Bronx, with a focus on poor, uninsured Latino and African American women age 50 and over.
• Metropolitan Hospital Center (New York, NY) will receive $250,000 for the outreach and patient navigator program. Funds will support a Breast Care Coordinator and Breast Health Educator, as well as patient transportation assistance.
• Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Foundation (Newark, NJ) will receive $250,000 for an MRI Computer Aided Detection System to help increase accuracy of MRI screening for high risk patients, plus a multi-lingual Advance Practice Nurse, patient transportation and program materials.
• Brookdale Hospital Medical Center (Brooklyn, NY) will receive $175,000 to develop a culturally competent patient navigation program of breast health targeting African American and Caribbean American women. These funds will help increase early diagnosis and management of breast cancer, implement targeted outreach programs and increase access to mammography services for these women.
• Young Survival Coalition (New York, NY) will receive $100,000 to support their Annual Conference for young women affected by breast cancer and a new Young Women’s Breast Cancer Registry.

About the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
During the Avon Walk New York 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 early in the morning of Saturday, October 6, with an inspiring Opening Ceremony at Hudson River Park’s Pier 84, which included an immediate reminder of the impact of breast cancer through the remarks of breast cancer survivor Cara Kealy, 38, of Mount Vernon, NY. Kealy battled breast cancer for the first time at age 30, and was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer eight years later. She said this weekend’s walkers provided her with strength and inspiration. “Stage IV is no longer the death sentence it used to be. I have treatments, and I have hope,” Kealy said, “This weekend serves as a message of hope to everyone who sees us.”

Following the Opening Ceremony, walkers began their journey and were supported by a volunteer crew every step of the way, buoyed by cheering stations of friends, family, supporters and local residents.

After completing the first day of walking, encompassing either a marathon or half marathon, participants spent Saturday night in two-person tents in the Avon Walk “Wellness Village” at Mackay Park in Englewood, NJ, complete with hot showers, prepared meals and live entertainment. On Sunday, October 7, walkers completed another half marathon (13.1 miles), ending back at Hudson River Park Pier 84 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 New York, 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 New York and registration is open for the Avon Walk Charlotte, NC, October 20-21, and for the upcoming 2008 series. Already completed are the 2007 Avon Walks for Breast Cancer Washington, DC; Boston; Chicago; Denver; San Francisco and Los Angeles.

From 2003 through 2006, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series raised more than $150 million. To register, donate or for additional information, please visit www.avonwalk.org or call 800-510-WALK.

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer thanks National Sponsor: Prevention Magazine; Official Sponsors: Airplus for her, Genentech BioOncology, Novartis Oncology and Reebok; and Official Water: FIJI.

Remember: early detection can help save lives. Schedule your mammogram or clinical breast exam today. For more breast cancer information and resources, visit www.cancer.org (keyword breast cancer) or www.avonfoundation.org, where you can access free printable breast cancer informational literature.