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Related Resources • Breast Cancer Walks • Training for a Marathon • Training for a Half-Marathon

From Other Guides • Breast Cancer

Elsewhere on the Web • Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

Highlights from the Intro Meeting for the 2003 Avon Walks for Breast Cancer.

Breast Cancer will be the only focus of the walk, there will be no cross-marketing of other events and causes.

Local offices: will be staffed in each event city, so walkers will have more direct access to their Walker Buddies and staff.

Mailings for the Participant Handbook and Donation forms will go out in December.

Intro Meetings:  There will be more Intro meetings for each event city, so stay tuned at the http://www.avonwalk.org site for one in your area.

Get Started Meetings: these will be more in depth meetings about training and fundraising.

Donation forms: When sending in checks with your donation forms DO NOT STAPLE, PAPERCLIP OR TAPE THEM TOGETHER. By not binding them at all, we will save over $100,000 in service fees - which can then go to fight breast cancer. Do not photocopy the forms but request more when needed.  They plan to optically scan in the forms.

Get Ready Training Walks: they will be enlisting walk leaders and hope to have a full schedule of these, including some led from the office itself.

Event Eve and prep before Day 1: Rather than the Day Zero format, instead there will be hours in the month ahead of the event for walkers to come to the office and complete their donation reports, medical info, and get their walker credentials so they can be all ready beforehand. For those arriving later or waiting until the last minute, there will be Event Eve to do the same, Friday night before the walk, probably 4-9pm.

Opening Ceremonies are MANDATORY. That is where we will all watch the Safety Video and get wristbanded as we leave. Opening ceremony area should open at 5 am, with a continental breakfast and loading of the gear trucks, with walking to progress at 6:30 am.

Route Details:  Lunch will be served near the Half Marathon mark. Walkers may stop the first day at the Half Marathon mark or choose to try for the full marathon distance. There will be sag vans throughout and people can stop at any Rest Stop or Quick Stop and get a ride to the Wellness Village. Walkers will get a Tear Sheet of directions for each day, in addition to the route markings.

Quick Stops and Rest Stops will be 1.5 - 2 miles apart with plenty of porta-johns.

Wellness Village/Camp:  The location of the Wellness Village will be announced ahead of time, as well as Cheering Stations. Family and friends are ENCOURAGED to visit the Wellness Village to learn more about breast cancer. There will be secured areas for walkers only - the sleeping areas, showers, and dining tent.

The Pink Mile: Family and friends are encouraged to line up for the Pink Mile on Day 2. The walkers will be held in a holding area at about a mile before the end, then we will walk in the Pink Mile cheered by our loved ones and supporters on Day 2.

The Walks - Two Days - Marathon and Half Marathon
The Avon Walk goal is to walk a marathon distance (26.2 miles) which can be split over both days.  You can decide during the event to do the longer or shorter option.
Option 1:   "Half 'n Half"
Saturday:  13.1 miles - with transport to the Wellness Village.
Sunday:  13.1 miles to the Closing Ceremonies at the starting point
Total Weekend Walk:  26.2 miles
Option 2:   "Whole 'n Half"
Saturday: 26.2 miles.
Sunday: 13.1 miles to the Closing Ceremonies at the starting point
Total Weekend Walk:  39.3 miles
The route is starts and ends at the same place, with the Saturday night Wellness Village out along the route.
On the route:  Water, sports drink and snacks are provided.
In camp:   You provide your sleeping bag, mattress and pillow while the tent, meals and hot showers are provided for you.

Registering to Walk or Crew
Each participant pays a $55 registration fee and must raise $1750 to participate.
Both men and women are welcome, with the age minimum of 18 years old.
The events are designed to accommodate 3,500-4,000 walkers.  A limit to the number of registrants will be set once the walking routes and sites are finalized.
Registrations are accepted online at the Avon Walk site.
Crew members assist in all aspects of making the event happen.  Crew registration is also $55, with no fundraising requirement.
Once registered, you will get support to coach you both in fundraising and in training for the walk.

The Avon Foundation
The Avon Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) public charity, is producing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.  While they provide control over the event, they will rely upon independent specialists for the participant support and logistics.  They have on board a team with years of experience in producing similar events.  They plan to keep overhead expenses below 50%, with a goal of 65% or more of the funds raised going to breast cancer programs.

The Avon Foundation funds the full range of breast cancer programs: medical research, clinical care, support services, education and early detection programs.  A majority of the net proceeds stay in the region where each walk is held.  As of mid-year 2002, the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade had raised more that $235 million for breast cancer worldwide.

Further Resources
• Training for a Marathon
• Training for a Half-Marathon
• Breast Cancer Walks