Avon Walk for Breast Cancer 2010

Black text on a pink background. An illustrated black bra with pink text and a cause ribbon highlights the word "support".

Since 1998, annual Avon Walks for Breast Cancer are community fundraising events that have been put on by the Avon Foundation, a charity run by global cosmetics corporation Avon Cosmetics. The foundation’s mission is to address problems that particularly, although not exclusively, affect women including breast cancer and domestic violence. Breast cancer is currently the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, a non-profit that tracks breast cancer, there are about 4 million breast cancer survivors in the United States, and current projections show that women have a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime.

Breast walks take place in various locales, and bring together breast cancer survivors, their loved ones, and other affected parties in community. Participants walk together along a set course, often wearing pink clothes, accessories, or ribbons to indicate their cause. Events sometimes include ceremonial speeches and generate publicity for the cause in local media. The money raised by Avon goes to cancer research and clinical practices, with an emphasis on regular mammograms, clinical breast exams and a continuing search for a breast cancer cure.