Award-winning singer Fergie to Join Thousands of Walkers at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Santa Barbara on Sunday, September 12

Recording artist and Avon spokesperson will present grants to local beneficiaries at Sunday’s closing ceremony

New York, NY, September 1, 2010 — The Avon Foundation for Women today announced that Fergie, six-time Grammy Award winner and Avon spokesperson, will be a special guest at the eighth annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Los Angeles, taking place in Santa Barbara, CA, on September 11-12. Fergie, a great friend and supporter of the Avon Foundation for Women, will cross the finish line with Avon Walk participants who are raising lifesaving funds to provide breast cancer detection and treatment and to help accelerate breast cancer research. Fergie also will participate in the poignant Avon Walk Closing Ceremony, announcing the Avon Foundation’s new Southern California-area grants.

“We are thrilled to have Fergie join us at the Avon Walk Santa Barbara, where her participation will help the Avon Foundation for Women raise much-needed awareness about the challenges and impact of breast cancer,” said Avon Foundation President Carol Kurzig. “Fergie will not just be walking, she’ll be meeting the women and men who are raising funds, breast cancer survivors and the researchers and organizations who are using those funds to save lives. This is a wonderful opportunity for her to see firsthand the impact the funds raised at the Avon Walk Santa Barbara will have in Southern California.”  

Fergie said: “I am so excited that I will join the thousands of amazing walkers, crew and volunteers at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Santa Barbara. I look forward to congratulating walkers at the finish line because they are making such an important difference in this cause. I am honored to be announcing the Avon Foundation grants to the incredible organizations here in Southern California that are leading the fight against breast cancer.”

The Avon Walk Santa Barbara is the seventh of nine Avon Walks this year, following successful events in Houston, TX; Washington, D.C.; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Rocky Mountains, CO; and San Francisco, CA that have raised more than $30 million so far.

The Santa Barbara Walk begins Saturday, September 11, with an inspirational Opening Ceremony at Chase Palm Park. Walkers have the choice of walking a half or full marathon on Saturday through the Santa Barbara area, supported by an all-volunteer crew and cheered by family and supporters along the route. Walkers and crew spend the night at the “Wellness Village” at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club in Carpinteria, CA, which features two-person sleeping tents, hot showers, prepared meals, entertainment, volunteer medical services and comprehensive support services, along with leisure activities such as relaxing yoga to stretch out their muscles, a spa zone with mini-back-and-foot-massages, and “tool school 101” demonstrations from sponsor Tomboy Tools. On Sunday, September 12, walkers complete their final 13.1 miles, and will celebrate their achievement with Fergie at the Closing Ceremony at Carpinteria State Beach with thousands of family and friends.

About the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

 The Avon Walk series is a project of the Avon Foundation for Women, a 501(c)(3) public charity; the Foundation distributes funds raised to help people get the care and treatment they need, with a focus on the medically underserved and uninsured, and to help find advance breast cancer research. On stage during the nine 2009 Avon Walk closing ceremonies, the Avon Foundation awarded more than 60 grants ranging from $5,000 to $1.25 million to leading cancer centers, research institutions and community-based organizations in the Walk regions. In addition, the Avon Foundation awarded more than 200 grants nationally throughout the year. For a complete list of Avon Foundation funding, visit http://www.avonfoundation.org/funding-and-grants/.

In total, since the launch of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in 2003, the Walks have raised more than $350 million through the dedication of nearly 120,000 participants, including women and men ranging in age from their teens to those in their 80s, from every walk of life.

The complete 2010 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer schedule includes: Houston, TX (April 10-11); Washington, DC (May 1-2); Boston, MA (May 15-16); Chicago, IL (June 5-6); Rocky Mountains, CO (June 26-27); San Francisco, CA (July 10-11); Santa Barbara, CA* (September 11-12); New York, NY (October 16-17); and Charlotte, NC (October 23-24). *The Avon Walk Santa Barbara replaces the walk held in Long Beach, CA, in 2009.

For more information, or to register or donate, visit www.avonwalk.org or call 888-541-WALK.

About the Avon Foundation for Women

The Avon Foundation for Women was founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women, and brings this mission to life through focus on two key issues: breast cancer and domestic violence. The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade launched in 1992, and Avon breast cancer programs in more than 50 countries have raised more than $640 million to advance access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, with a focus on the medically underserved. Funding is awarded to beneficiaries ranging from leading cancer centers to community-based breast health programs to support five critical areas: awareness and education; screening and diagnosis; access to treatment; support services; and scientific research. In addition to generous support from Avon Products, Inc., the Avon Foundation raises funds through the sale of “pink ribbon” products, and through a variety of events, races and walks; the U.S. Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series is the Foundation’s largest fund-raising source.

About Fergie

Multi-platinum recording artist Fergie began her career early, first as the voice for the cartoon series Charlie Brown as both Sally and Lucy, later as a cast member of Kids Incorporated during her teen years, followed by joining the all-female pop trio Wild Orchid.  She joined The Black Eyed Peas in 2002, and was on hand when the release of their first disc together, Elephunk, went triple platinum. The mega-single "Let's Get It Started," earned The Peas an award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Two years later the follow-up Monkey Business yielded five Top 40 hits including "Don't Phunk With My Heart" and "My Humps" and has sold over nine million copies worldwide. Once again, The Black Eyed Peas won an award for the Best Rap Performance for "Don't Phunk With My Heart." In 2006, Fergie released her debut solo album, The Dutchess, which sold over 6 million copies worldwide.

The Black Eye Peas fifth CD, The E.N.D. entered the Billboard Top 200 chart at #1.  "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Gotta Feeling" spent 26 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The Black Eyed Peas made Billboard history with the longest successive stay at the top of the chart.

Fergie had a starring role in the award-nominated feature film, "NINE."     

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The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer thanks National Sponsors: Reebok and Genentech BioOncology; and Official Sponsors: Tomboy Tools, Yoga Journal, Otterbox and Post Selects. 

Remember: early detection can help save lives. Discuss breast cancer screening with your doctor. Make informed decisions about what age to start mammography. Get to know your risk and risk reduction strategies. For more breast cancer information and resources, visit www.cancer.org (keyword breast cancer) or www.avonfoundation.org, where you can access free printable breast cancer informational literature.