Local Reading Resident to Walk 39.3 Miles to End Breast Cancer

She is IN IT TO END IT! Andrea Scullin of Reading will join thousands of women and men in the upcoming Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Boston, raising funds and awareness that will help defeat breast cancer and support those facing the disease. Andrea will participate in the non-competitive event, which offers the option of walking a marathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles) over the weekend of May 18th, This is her third time participating in the Avon Walk, and she is training hard and raising funds in preparation for the event.

Andrea was inspired to take part in the Avon Walk Boston because of a strong family history of breast cancer.

“Thanks to thousands of people like Andrea, we are able to save lives by providing significant funds for vital breast cancer research as well as access to care, screening, support services and education,” said Carol Kurzig, president of the Avon Foundation for Women, the public charity that produces the Avon Walks. “For the past decade, tens of thousands of dedicated women and men took personal action to help others through the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. The Avon Foundation for Women is ‘in it to end it’ for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer’s 10th Birthday season in 2012. We are truly inspired by our participants’ passion and enthusiasm.”

Andrea has set a fundraising goal of $1800. To support Andrea’s fundraising campaign, donations can be sent towww.avonwalk.org/goto/andrea2013. Funds raised by Andrea and the thousands of other Avon Walk participants are awarded by the Avon Foundation for Women, a 501(c)(3) public charity, to help make sure anyone facing a breast cancer diagnosis gets the care they need regardless of their ability to pay, and to help fund breast cancer research. For a complete list of Avon Foundation for Women funding, visit www.avonfoundation.org.

The Avon Walk series, the Avon Foundation’s largest fund-raising event, comprises nine non-competitive weekend fund-raising walks for all fitness levels that require a significant commitment from participants. Each walker is required to raise at least $1,800 in donations and to prepare physically for the event, which offers the option of walking a marathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles) over a weekend. Among the walkers’ ranks in 2012 were men and women of all ages, from nearly every state and several countries, including more than 1,800 breast cancer survivors. This large, diverse group was united by their shared desire to eradicate breast cancer and help those touched by the disease.

Andrea will start her Walk weekend with an opening ceremony early Saturday morning, and then spend most of the day walking. Both walkers and volunteer Crew spend Saturday night at the “Wellness Village,” featuring two-person pink sleeping tents, hot showers, prepared meals and support services. On Sunday, all walkers set out on the route again, with their final miles culminating in an impactful closing ceremony, including the presentation of local grants so funds immediately benefit deserving medical centers and breast cancer organizations in the community.

For more information or to register for an Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, visit www.avonwalk.org or call 888-541-WALK.

About the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer 
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series, which observes its 10th birthday in 2012, is a project of the Avon Foundation for Women, a 501(c)(3) public charity. Since its launch in 2003, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series has raised more than $423 million through the dedication of nearly 160,000 participating women and men from across the country. The Avon Foundation awards the funds raised to local, regional and national breast cancer organizations to support breast cancer awareness and education, screening and diagnosis, access to treatment, support services, and scientific research. The Walks take place in nine cities, covering 39 miles in two days, and raise significant awareness and funds to fight breast cancer. The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Series is the largest fund-raising event for the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. Since the Crusade launched in 1992, Avon breast cancer programs in more than 50 countries have donated $740 million for research and advancing access to care, regardless of a person’s ability to pay.

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer thanks National Sponsor: Reebok; Official Sponsor: OtterBox

Remember, early detection helps save lives. Talk to your doctor about your risk, risk-reduction strategies and about what age to start mammography. For more breast cancer information and resources, visit www.cancer.orgor www.avonfoundation.org. And don't forget, men can get breast cancer too.

Follow the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on Facebook (www.facebook.com/avonwalks) and Twitter (twitter.com/avonwalks).