New York Avon Walk Raises $10.2 Million for Breast Cancer

The fifth annual Avon Walk raised $10.2 million for breast cancer this weekend, October 6 and 7, 2007 in New York.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in women, next to skin cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer-related death for women, next only to lung cancer. They estimate that 178,480 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States in the year 2007, and of those, approximately 40,460 will die.

The Avon Walk aims to raise funds for breast cancer research, treatment, and education. Participants in this year's Avon Walk in New York came from many different states as well as other countries including Spain, Iceland, Canada, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Germany.

In order to participate in the Walk, each walker had to raise a minimum donation of $1,800. More than 3,900 walkers participated in the New York Avon Walk this weekend, raising a total of $10.2 million.

Each walker either walked a marathon, 26.2 miles, or a marathon and a half, 39.3 miles.

This year's Walk in New York began with an opening ceremony at Hudson River Park's Pier 84. During the opening ceremony, a breast cancer survivor, Cara Kealy, spoke.

Walkers spent the night in tents at Mackay Park in Englewood New Jersey after their first full day of walking, which either consisted of a half marathon or a full marathon. They were rewarded with a prepared meal, hot showers, and live entertainment.

The walking continued on Sunday, where each participant completed another half-marathon, returning to Hudson River Park Pier 84 for the closing ceremony.

Family members, friends, volunteers, and supporters were stationed throughout the walk to cheer and support walkers.

The money raised through the Avon Walk will support breast cancer education and awareness, support services, accessible treatment, screening and diagnosis, and research. The funds are allocated to local, regional, and national cancer organizations.

Some of the initial grants include: $6,855,000 to the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Fund, $250,000 to God's Love We Deliver, $175,000 to Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, $235,000 to Cancer Care, $100,000 to Young Survivors Coalition, and $250,000 to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.

Registration for the Avon Walk in Charlotte, North Carolina, scheduled to take place on October 20-21 is still open. Registration for Avon Walks in 2008 is also now open.

Other cities that have also hosted Avon Walks this year include Denver, Chicago, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Boston, and Los Angeles.

For more information about breast cancer, please visit the American Cancer Society at: www.cancer.org.

For more information about Avon Walks or to register for an upcoming Avon Walk, please visit: www.avonwalk.org.

Sources:

PR Newswire: Fifth Annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer New York Raises $10.2 Million:
http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?beat=BEAT_HEALTHCARE&view=LATEST&resourceid=3573664

American Cancer Society: Overview: Breast Cancer:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_1X_How_many_people_get_breast_cancer_5.asp?sitearea=