Press Release

AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer Raises $7.6 Million in New York

NEW YORK, October 16, 2016 – AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer continued its 14th annual event series in New York this weekend raising $7.6 million to accelerate breast cancer research; improve access to screening, diagnosis and treatment; and educate people about breast cancer.

AVON 39 New York – the final event of the series and united by the theme #Powerof39 – drew 3,100 participants from 44 states and Washington, D.C., including 410 breast cancer survivors who walked a total of 39.3 miles over two days. Since the AVON 39’s launch in 2003, more than 220,000 participants have raised nearly $590,000,000. Funds raised are distributed to local, regional and national breast cancer organizations.

“This weekend, 3,100 AVON 39ers united in New York with one common goal: to end breast cancer,” said Jill Surdyka, AVON 39 National Ambassador. “The grants given today will help us do just that – and will help us to further our goal in providing services to those in need, educating the public, and crushing breast cancer once and for all.”

Fatima Hussain, a breast cancer survivor, shared her inspirational breast cancer journey and the importance of early detection with fellow participants, volunteers, family and friends. “I am lucky to have the support of my family, friends and new ‘cancer friends.’ I was also fortunate to have insurance to alleviate some of the costs of treatment. I listened to my body and didn’t ignore the lump. If I had ignored it or didn’t have insurance, my outcome could have been different,” Fatima said. “I knew I needed to be a part of AVON 39 because I wanted to help others, be part of something bigger and stronger than cancer, and show the ‘cancer me’ that the power of 39 heals.”

At the event, AVON 39 National Ambassador Jill Surdyka announced eight new grants to local breast cancer organizations, ensuring the funds raised immediately benefit the local community. Additional grants will be awarded throughout the year, adding to the more than $64.3 million donated by the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade and Avon Foundation for Women to organizations and institutions in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Representatives from the eight organizations receiving grants at the AVON 39 New York thanked participants for their commitment to ending breast cancer and for their spectacular fundraising achievements. All Avon Safety Net and Breast Cancer Outreach Program grantees commit to providing their services to everyone – no matter their insurance status, demographic background or ability to pay.

• Metropolitan Hospital Center received a grant of $100,000 to support their breast cancer program, MAS, which supports individualized, culturally sensitive patient advocacy and navigation for women living in East Harlem.

• Newark Beth Israel Medical Center received a grant of $100,000 to introduce a surgical navigator to support patients with abnormal mammographies through the process of diagnostics, surgery and beyond.

• God’s Love We Deliver received a grant of $150,000 to serve more than 75,000 nutritionally rich meals to women with breast cancer, along with their children and senior caregivers, and provide targeted outreach and ongoing nutrition counseling for women and families in at-risk communities

• New York University School of Medicine received a grant of $200,000 to continue their breast cancer navigation and research program, ensuring that more than 100 newly diagnosed women are linked to personalized care, including clinical trials. The grant will also ensure that more than 1,000 current breast cancer patients are led through treatment to survivorship.

• Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute received a grant of $300,000 to continue to examine how a patient’s immune system can be a powerful tool for fighting metastatic breast cancer. By studying how proteins extracted from tumor cells can lead to an immune response, they hope to help the patient’s immune system recognize and attack the cancer.

• CancerCare received a grant of $600,000 to provide more than 2,800 patients with financial assistance grants to offset the costs of childcare, transportation to and from oncology appointments and other practical support needed during treatment.

• The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center of Columbia University Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, home of the Avon Center of Excellence, received a grant of $750,000 to support the Avon Breast Imaging Center’s patient navigation program. The program offers bi-lingual, culturally sensitive services to patients. Additionally, the funds will support four research projects that seek to reduce the incidence of breast cancer and improve patient outcomes, particularly among minority and underserved women.

  • Avon Breast Health Outreach Coordinating Center received a grant of $2,750,000 on behalf of Avon’s 2017 Breast Health Outreach Programs. With this grant, approximately 50 grassroots organizations across the country will help women living in medically underserved communities learn about access screening, preventative care and, if needed, follow-up diagnostics and treatment.

Event Details

AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer New York began on Saturday, October 15 at 6:15 a.m. with an inspirational opening ceremony at Hudson River Park’s Pier 97. Participants then walked 26.2 miles through the New York area, supported by an all-volunteer crew and cheered on by supporters. AVON 39 participants spent Saturday night on Randall’s Island, featuring pink two-person tents, hot showers and meals, entertainment and leisure activities, as well as volunteer medical services provided by AVON 39 Medical Sponsor NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. A new element to the campground was Primetime 39, an evening entertainment showcase featuring a local band.

On Sunday, October 16, after completing the final 13.1 miles, participants joined family and friends to celebrate their achievement at a finish festival and closing ceremony at 2:00 p.m. During the ceremony, the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade awarded new grants to New York-area breast cancer organizations to ensure the funds raised will benefit the community immediately.

Get Involved with AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer

Registration is open for the 2017 season, including Houston (April 22-23); Washington DC (May 6-7); Chicago (June 3-4); Boston (June 24-25); San Francisco (July 8-9); Santa Barbara (September 9-10) and New York (October 14-15).

For more information about AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer, visit www.avon39.org or join the #Powerof39 conversation on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

About AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer

AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer is the largest fund-raising event for the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. Since its launch by the Avon Foundation for Women 2003, more than 220,000 participants have trekked 6,868,000 miles and raised nearly $590,000,000 in the fight to end breast cancer. Funds raised at each event provide direct impact in the area where the event takes place, and also help make sure that care and research programs nationwide have adequate resources to make the most progress possible. For more information about AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer, visit www.avon39.org or join the #Powerof39 conversation on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

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