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(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070916/AQSU002)
UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation (Los Angeles, CA) will receive$1,168,137 for research, fellowships, equipment and access to care. With thisgrant, UCLA Jonsson becomes one of the eight current named Avon FoundationCenters of Excellence across the country.
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John Wayne Cancer Institute and the Center for Healthy Aging (SantaMonica, CA) will receive $275,000.
About the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
During the Avon Walk Los Angeles, walkers had a choice of walking amarathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles) over the weekend.The event kicked off early in the morning of Saturday, September 15, with aninspiring Opening Ceremony at Queen Mary Events Park, which included animmediate reminder of the impact of breast cancer through the remarks ofthree-time breast cancer survivor Shonte Henderson, 40, of Belleflower, Calif.
"I hope that the people of Southern California who saw us walking thisweekend will see our determination and spirit and be inspired to take actionand to raise more money for more prevention, more research and more availableservices to those who do not have them," Henderson said, "Because there isstill a lot to be done before everyone diagnosed with breast cancer cansurvive."
Following the Opening Ceremony, walkers began their journey and weresupported by a volunteer crew every step of the way, buoyed by cheeringstations of family, supporters, local residents and the staff of fundedorganizations such as the John Wayne Cancer Institute and UCLA Jonsson CancerCenter. After completing the first day of walking, encompassing either amarathon or half marathon, participants spent Saturday night in two-persontents in the Avon Walk "Wellness Village" at El Dorado East Regional Park,complete with hot showers, prepared meals and live entertainment. On Sunday,September 16, walkers completed another half marathon (13.1 miles), endingback at Queen Mary Events Park where they were greeted by thousands of familyand friends who shared in a celebratory and moving Closing Ceremony.
To participate in the Avon Walk Los Angeles, each walker raised a minimumof $1,800 in donations, which is managed and disbursed by the Avon Foundation[a 501(c)(3) public charity]. Funds raised by participants of the Avon Walksare awarded to local, regional and national breast cancer organizations tosupport five areas of the breast cancer cause, including awareness andeducation, screening and diagnosis, access to treatment, support services, andscientific research, all with a focus on the medically underserved.
Donations are still being accepted for the Avon Walk Los Angeles, andregistration is open for the remaining 2007 Walks: New York (October 6-7); andCharlotte, NC (October 20-21), as well as for the Avon Walk 2008 series.Already completed are the 2007 Avon Walks for Breast Cancer Washington, DC;Boston; Chicago; Denver; and San Francisco.
From 2003 through 2006, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series raised morethan $150 million. To register, donate or for additional information, pleasevisit http://www.avonwalk.org or call 800-510-WALK.
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer thanks National Sponsor: PreventionMagazine; Official Sponsors: Airplus for her, Genentech BioOncology, NovartisOncology and Reebok; and Official Water: FIJI.
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