The fifth annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Los Angeles, CA, held September 15th through September 16th, raised $4.3 million. Funds raised will help to find a cure for breast cancer. There were more than 1,900 participants in this year’s event.

Participants had the option of walking a marathon or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles) over the weekend event. The event began Saturday, September 15th in the morning at Queen Mary Events Park in Long Beach, CA with an opening ceremony.

After the first day of walking, participants spent the night in two-person tents in the “Wellness Village” created by the Avon Walk at El Dorado East Regional Park in Long Beach, CA. They enjoyed live entertainment and dinner. On Sunday the participants completed  a half marathon’s journey and ended the day at the Queen Mary Events Park. Thousands of cheering family and friends greeted them for a inspiring closing ceremony.

At the closing ceremony, Avon Foundation Executive Director Ms. Carol Kurzig stated that five initial grants will be awarded. These grants will advance access to care and also help to find a cure for breast cancer. The initial grants were awarded to: UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation (Los Angeles, CA) for $1,168,137; John Wayne Cancer Institute and the Center for Healthy Aging (Santa Monica, CA) for $275,00; Council of Community Clinics (San Diego, CA) for $250,000; Clinica Msr. Oscar A. Romero (Los Angeles, CA) for $180,000; and Project Angel Food (Los Angeles, CA) for $100,000.

Source: PRNewswire

Create A Well-Known Event By Keeping The Same Date

Everyone in Elmira Heights, NY knows what the first weekend in January means: the Bowl for the Cure weekend.

The Bowl for the Cure  event last year was held on January 6th and 7th. The event is always held at Paramount Bowling Lanes in Elmira Heights. Last year 120 bowlers came out to participate in the event and help to raise money. “It’s just a day to come out and have fun, no competitive bowling,” says Linda Morrell. Morrell is a dedicated volunteer who attended the United States Bowling Congress convention in 2002 in Reno, NV. “I heard about Bowl for the Cure  and brought this back to our local womens association, and I presented it to the Board of Directors” said Morrell. The Board agreed it would be a good idea and they selected Morrell to chair the event. Read more… »

Even though I’ve finished a marathon (26.2 miles), half marathon and numerous 5K’s I’ve always been a bit skeptical about 3 day walks. To walk 60 miles over three days! I thought I was going to die at the end of one marathon. How can someone do more than three times that length over 3 days?

Apparently it is possible and there are plenty of people willing to lace up their shoes and go for it. In fact 1,900 people began a three day walk yesterday in Boston. Why? It’s all to help fund cancer research, benefiting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

Unlike a marathon or other event, the 3 day is not a race. It takes a completely different strategy.

One dedicated walker described it this way:

“You get tired. You tend to lose your sense of humor after lunch a little bit,” said Judi Maguire of Marlborough, whose six-member team is called the Sunflower Girls. The key is to remember “it’s not a race. You have to pace yourself. … You get into the zone after awhile.”

The Sunflower Girls do a whole lot of walking, Maguire said. They’ve done the Walk for Hunger, Race for the Cure and walks to benefit MS, AIDS and SIDS research. They’ve also walked with Milford’s Scialdone, who couldn’t get to Albany to train with her teammates on a regular basis.

Source: Milford Daily News

Just like any long distance event training is really important. The mental and physical training prepares you for race day. Even just as important is that for many charity athletic events, one of the great motivators is the charity. Walkers keep on going because they’ve made a commitment to help promote and raise funds for a cause. It’s what keep you putting one foot in front of another!

Twelve men had a unique fundraising idea to help raise money while walking in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day. They are all featured in a full-color calendar, most with their shirts off, active in their job or favorite activity. The calendar includes a firefighter and a plumber among the men. They are 24 to 73 years in age. The calendar was first available in May 2007 and is being sold year-round.

The Susan G. Komen 3 Day will be held in Michigan in Detroit on September 28th through September 30th.

They created a not-for-profit organization called 60 Mile Men and designed a website for their calendar that also features other products. Proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk. The 60 Mile Men name comes from the distance that all participants will walk in the Komen event. The men are walking in the event to honor wives, family members and friends who have breast cancer or have had breast cancer.

Source: monroenews.com

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Washington, CD on Saturday, April 28th was attended by 3,100 walkers. They raised 7.4 million dollars for the charity. Over 79 percent of each dollar raised goes towards the cause according to the Avon Foundation.

Many of the walkers attended the walk to support a friend or a family member that had breast cancer. Some of the walkers are breast cancer survivors. Last year’s walk had approximately 100 men attend and this year’s event saw an increase to 250 - 300 men at the walk.

“I don’t want my daughter, my granddaughter or anybody else to go through it,” says Judy Cherry, 60, a breast cancer survivor who formed a team that raised more than $10,000 for this weekend’s walk. ” I can cure cancer, because I walk.”

Source: WTOP news.com

A charity walk has the potential to raise funds to help find a cure for the disease, but it also has the ability to raise awareness about early detection, and in the case of breast cancer — the benefits of physical fitness.

The Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure celebrated its 25th anniversary in Washington, D.C. with a 5K walk. President and Mrs. Bush were the honorary chairpersons for the event.

Breast cancer causes 502,000 deaths every year worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. The Avon Foundation states that it is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer among women. Early detection is the best defense against it, as there is no cure, according to the American Cancer Society.

50,000 walkers were anticipated for the national all-day Komen race. 35 international teams were also expected, hosted by embassies.

The Komen Foundation first began breast cancer fund-raising walks in 1982. They are the largest nongovernmental source of funding for breast cancer research.

Charity walks have gained popularity, and they have helped to raise much-needed funds for breast cancer. The Avon Foundation also holds a Avon Walk Around the World for Breast Cancer walk in 39 countries.

U.S.A. Track and Field, a national governing body, states that charity walks raised $656 million during 2005. This is a 14% increase from 2004.

Every year the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation plans several races to raise funds for breast cancer research. The Race for the Cure is their signature 5K that’s held all over the country.

For those who really want to go the distance they offer a 3 day walk in selected cities. That’s 60 miles over 3 days! Such an endurance event requires extensive physical training. So it’s important to get signed up as early as possible. Read more… »