“Will you make the choice and Step Out today?” This was the question posed to the entire nation in the months leading up to this year’s Avon Walk and Run events. And true to form, Filipinos from different walks of life heeded this passionate call to arms as they came together in Manila and Bacolod to show support  for a cause near and dear to their hearts: the fight against breast cancer.

Dubbed Step Out! Against Breast Cancer, this year’s Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer (KGBC) campaign activity features both a walk—a regular part of the annual campaign—and a 5-km. run, a new component that aims to tap into the growing community of runners in the Philippines.

The run kicked off in Manila and was hosted by Avon Breast cancer Crusade ambassador Iza Calzado. Held at the SM Mall of Asia Open Grounds and SM Bacolod, Step Out!  Against Breast  Cancer saw countless supporters of the cause, including well-known personalities and special guests, united in support of the cause.

Avon Philippines President and General Manager, Mike  Gudgin, expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming turnout for the walk and run events. "It's very encouraging to see so many people coming together and stepping out for a worthy cause. It is this overwhelming show of support from our partners and from the general public that deepens Avon's commitment to champion the breast cancer crusade. While there is no cure to this disease, we in Avon want to make sure that women have a greater chance of not becoming a victim through awareness."

Launched locally in 2002, the KGBC partnered with the Philippine Cancer Society and funds raised from the initial campaigned helped Avon establish the Philippine  General Hospital’s (PGH) Breast Care Center in creating a Mammography Unit. KGBC campaigns in the succeeding years have also raised financial support for  the treatment of indigent patients, as well as creating support groups, and the provision of much-needed medical equipment to provincial government hospitals.

This year, Avon's  KGBC  funds are raised through the sale of the Limited Edition  KGBC  T-Shirt and  the Avon Naturals Water Lily and Aloe Hand and Body Lotion, where P5 from each bottle of lotion sold is earmarked for the breast cancer fund.

Truly, stepping  out  and  being proactive mark the beginning of finding a solution—and   with   no   one   being  exempt  from  the  life-threatening repercussions  of  breast cancer, it is everyone’s responsibility to make a contribution towards discovering the cure for it. Clearly, with this year’s Avon Walk and Run events, it remains one of the topmost commitment of every Filipino—whether sufferer, survivor or family member—to do his or her part to help win this noble battle.

The next series of Avon Walk and Run events will be held on the following dates and venues:  Avon Walk on October 10 at Avon Cagayan de Oro and SM Lucena, October 17 at SM Baguio and Avon Run on October 10 at Avon Cagayan de Oro.

Aside  from  empowering  women  with  meaningful  earning opportunities and quality  beauty  products,  Avon is also the largest corporate supporter of the  breast  cancer  cause.  Recently, Avon announced reaching the new milestone of US640 million raised and awarded worldwide for access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer.

Learn more about Avon, its products, its advocacies and its meaningful earning opportunities at avon.com

(Photos courtesy of Avon)