Step By Step Through an Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk

Step-by-Step Through the DC Event

Why did I commit to walking 20 miles a day for three days and raising thousands of dollars for charity - and do it 3000 miles from home? My Forum readers were so enthusiastic about the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day Walks that I had to find out why. The first one with open registration was the May, 2001 DC Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk.

Breast cancer touched my life by taking the life of my grandmother and striking several co-workers and friends. I had never done a major fund-raising effort for a walk, but this was a cause I could get behind enthusiastically.

Update: Avon and 3-Day Walks Split After 2002

The Avon 3-Day Walks ended in 2002 as Avon split with Pallotta TeamWorks, the event producer, which went out of business. Thankfully, talented people from each organization kept the flame alive and two new events were born which keep much of the same format and flavor. The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer was reborn with a 2-day format and half-marathon/marathon option. The 3-Day Breast Cancer Walks benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation maintained the same 3-day, 20 miles per day format. In each case, there is one or two nights of camping and full trail support as shown in the following step-by-step pages. The Avon 3-Day Breast Cancer Walks are no more, so terms used in these pages are now dated. But many of the details and the spirit of the event live on in the events which replaced them.
Review of Avon Walk for Breast Cancer NYC 2003

In my previous article I detailed how to register and train. Now I take you step by step through the days of the actual walk. We begin with what to pack when you leave home. Then on to the Day Zero registration process and the three days of the walk, camp, and life-changing experience.

The printed materials and web sites for these walks are excellent - let them guide you as your first resource. You will be aided by a massive number of volunteers, crew and staff. Their goal is for you to be happy, comfortable and ready to walk!

Next page> What to Pack Step-by-Step Through the DC Event
• Packing
• Travel to Day Zero
• Check-In and Pledges
• Safety and Orientation
• Registration and Tents
• More and Hotel Shuttle
• Day One (9 pages)
• Day Two (5 pages)
• Day Three (6 pages)
• Closing Ceremonies
• Photo Album

• Previous: Committing, Fundraising and Training
From Other Guides
• Breast Cancer
• DC
• Women's Health

Elsewhere on the Web
• Breast Cancer 3-Day Walks
• Avon Walk for Breast Cancer