SEVENTH ANNUAL AVON WALK FOR BREAST CANCER NEW YORK
TO STEP-OFF ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
Thousands of Participants to Walk 39.3 Miles to Fight Breast Cancer
What:
On Saturday, October 10th, thousands of participants will begin
the first day of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer New York, a
non-competitive fundraising event which offers a choice of
walking a marathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a half (39.3
miles) over a weekend, supported by a volunteer crew. This is
the seventh annual Avon Walk in the NYC area, and the eighth in
the 2009 Avon Walk season. Funds will be awarded by the Avon
Foundation for Women to local and regional breast cancer
organizations to advance access to care and finding a cure for
breast cancer.
After completing the first part of their journey on Saturday,
walkers and crew will camp out at the “Wellness Village” at
Randall’s Island, complete with two-person tents, hot meals,
showers, yoga, medical services, a “spa zone” and the new
“Tomboy Tools Tool School 101” demonstrations and live
entertainment including the marching band at Bishop Laughlin
High School from Brooklyn, NY. Participants will complete the
final 13 miles of the Avon Walk New York on Sunday, October
11th, ending with a celebratory Closing Ceremony attended by
thousands of family, friends and supporters, during which
initial local funding grants will be announced.
Who:
Thousands of Avon Walk New York
walkers and volunteer crew members – women and men committed to
taking personal action in the fight against breast cancer. Among
the participants are Barbara Paesano of Brewster, NY who is a 10
year survivor; David Nathanson of Manaplan, NJ who is walking
for his wife who is a survivor; Fran Socolick of Staten Island,
NY who is a survivor, 6 year AWBC participant and volunteering
on the Medical Crew this year; JoAnn Astrosky of Carmel, NY is a
member of Team Titty Titty Bang Bang and is a survivor who was
diagnosed at the age of 28; the Army of Women team, all members
of the Love/Avon Army of Women program; and Marc Bromfeld of
South Orange, NJ who is a member of Robin’s Hood a team formed
in honor of his friend Robin.
When:
Saturday, October 10th
6:15 a.m.
Opening Ceremony: Hudson
River Park’s Pier 84
44th Street and 12th Ave (West Side Hwy) New York, NY
10036
6:45 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Walkers follow Saturday’s
route -- a choice of 13.1 or 26.2 miles (a half or full
marathon) For the location of walkers or public cheering
stations all day, call the media contacts
3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Wellness Village (overnight
campsite): Randall’s Island 20 Randall's Island (behind
Icahn Stadium) New York, NY 10035Walkers arrive
according to their own pace.
Why:
There is a new diagnosis of breast
cancer every three minutes. New York is the eighth in the 2009
Avon Walk season with thousands of women and men joining
together to raise significant funds and awareness that will help
save lives. Each walker in the noncompetitive event has the
choice of walking a marathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a
half (39.3 miles) over the weekend, and all walkers commit to
raising at least $1,800. Donations are still accepted for the
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer New York at avonwalk.org.
The Avon Walk series is a project of the Avon Foundation for
Women, a 501(c)(3) public charity. Funds raised are distributed
by the Foundation to advance access to care and finding a cure
for breast cancer, with a focus on the medically underserved.
From the 2003 launch through 2008, $268 million was raised by
nearly 100,000 Avon Walk participants, contributing to the more
than $585 million raised by all Avon Breast Cancer Crusade
programs worldwide. Grants are awarded to leading cancer
centers, research institutions and community-based
organizations.
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer thanks National Sponsor: Reebok;
and Official Sponsors: Genentech BioOncology and Tomboy Tools.
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.
FACT SHEET
Saturday and Sunday route highlights: Walkers will begin
their journey at Hudson River Park’s Pier 84, and walk
throughout New York City on Saturday with scenic locations
including Chelsea Park, City Hall Park, Cadman Plaza Park, and
the footbridge to Randall’s Island. Walkers will continue to
the end of their journey on Saturday to Randall’s Island,
where the Wellness Village is located, to be greeted with open
arms and cheers by volunteers, crew members, supporters,
family and the local community. Sunday’s routes continue
through iconic NYC scenery, passing locations such as Samuel
Seabury Playground, Morningside Park, 1345 Plaza, where Avon’s
Global Headquarters is housed and Union Square before
finishing back at Hudson River Park’s Pier 84 for the Closing
Ceremony.
Donations are still accepted for the Avon Walk New York
and registration is open for the remaining 2009 Avon Walks. To
register, donate or for information, please visit
www.avonwalk.org or call 888-541-WALK.
The remaining 2009 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer schedule
includes:; and Charlotte, NC (October 24-25). Already
completed are the Avon Walks Houston, Washington, DC, Boston,
Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York.
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is a series of nine
non-competitive weekend fundraising walks for all fitness
levels. On Saturday, participants start with an inspirational
Opening Ceremony, after which they have the choice of walking
13.1 or 26.2 miles. Participants spend Saturday night at the
“Wellness Village,” featuring two-person sleeping tents, hot
showers, prepared meals, and live entertainment. On Sunday,
walkers complete another 13.1 miles and end with a celebratory
Closing Ceremony which includes the announcement of initial
local funding grants.
To participate, each walker raises at least $1,800 in
donations. Upon registration, walkers are assigned a “Walker
Buddy,” a staff member to help with fundraising and training
plans and other support, and receive a Handbook with
fundraising and training tips. An interactive website offers a
personal fundraising page, local training walks and more.
Funds raised at Avon Walks are awarded by the Avon
Foundation for Women, a 501(c) (3) public charity, to advance
access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, with a
focus on the medically underserved. Grants are awarded for
scientific research, awareness and education, screening and
diagnosis, access to treatment and support services. For a
list of Avon Foundation for Women grants, visit
www.avonfoundation.org.
Last year alone, over 24,000 participants raised more than
$63 million, making 2008 the most successful Avon Walk series
in its five-year history. Since the launch of the Avon Walk in
2003 through 2008, $268 million has been raised through the
dedication of nearly 1000,000 participating women and men.
Since 1992, all of the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade programs
have raised more than $585 million worldwide.
During the 2008 Avon Walk closing ceremonies in nine
cities, the Foundation immediately awarded a total of over 70
grants ranging from $100,000 to over $6 million to leading
cancer centers, research institutions and community-based
organizations in the Walk regions, with additional grants
awarded nationally throughout the year.
