What: On Saturday, September 7, participants took the first steps of the 11th annual Los Angeles-area Avon Walk for Breast Cancerin Santa Barbara — the fifth Walk of the 2013 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer season. The Avon Walk series consists of eight non-competitive fundraising events throughout the country that bring together thousands of participants – including breast cancer survivors – dedicated to raising life-saving funds for the breast cancer cause. The Avon Walks offer participants a choice of walking a marathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon-and-a-half (39.3 miles) over a weekend. Walkers raise a minimum of $1,800 to participate and the Avon Foundation for Women distributes the funds raised to local, regional and national breast cancer organizations supporting access to care and research.

After completing the first portion of the Avon Walk Santa Barbara on Saturday, September 7, walkers and crew camped at the “Wellness Village” at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. The Wellness Village – equipped with pink two-person tents, hot meals, showers, yoga, medical services and entertainment – provided a relaxing haven for participants as they rested up for the second leg of the walk. On Sunday, September 8, participants will finish the Walk and come together to celebrate their long journey at a closing ceremony at Carpinteria State Beach attended by thousands of family, friends and supporters. At the ceremony, the Avon Foundation will award the funds raised to breast cancer organizations in the participants’ communities.

Who: Thousands of participants from across Southern California and the United States – including walkers and volunteer crew members – are all committed to taking action in the fight against breast cancer. One such walker is Donna Stevens, a seven-year survivor participating in her fourth Avon Walk Santa Barbara, who walks to support the cause and the community of women who need help in the fight.

When: Sunday, September 8

7:00 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. All walkers follow Sunday’s route – final 13.1 miles

*For information on the location of walkers or public cheering stations throughout the day, please call the media hotline or check attached “media notes”

2:15 p.m. Closing Ceremony: Carpinteria State Beach

Linden Ave & 3rd Street Carpinteria, CA 93013

Why: There is a new diagnosis of breast cancer every three minutes. Through 2012, the Avon Foundation for Women has donated more than $57.7 million to organizations and institutions in the Tri-State area. The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series – a project of the Avon Foundation for Women, a 501(c)(3) public charity – has raised nearly $488 million since its launch in 2003 through the dedication of more than 187,000 participating women and men across the country. The Avon Walk series is the largest fund-raising event for the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. Since the Crusade launched in 1992, Avon breast cancer programs in 58 countries have donated $780 million for research and advancing access to care, regardless of a person’s ability to pay.

Info: For more information on the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, visit www.avonwalk.org or call 888-541-WALK. To learn more about the Avon Foundation for Women visit www.avonfoundation.org.

AVON FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN MEDIA HOTLINE (347) 921-2070

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