When we go up to New York City for the Avon Walk we're going to have to make a hotel reservation to stay in a hotel the night before so we're right there. I'm sure as it gets closer to the actual walk we'll know the location of opening ceremonies and will be able to find a hotel near there. A friend of mine was telling me that when the time comes to use TravelHero.com. They provide discount hotel reservations and can help you find a great place to stay in hundreds of different cities in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and about 216 other countries. Not only can you find a hotel but you can also find flights, car rentals, activities and even vacation packages using the same website. If you're not comfortable booking any of your vacation needs online they also have an 800 number to call.

If I can persuade my husband to make the Avon Walk into a week trip we might need to look into renting a car. I'm not sure if we'd be flying or driving, but there's enough time right now to figure that all out. And yes, I have yet to even tell him I'm signed up.

I wish I could be there for it, but, since it's up in New York and I'm down here in Florida it looks like I can't. I'm wondering though if there's a way to meet others from this area that will also be walking in it. I'll have to roam around their site a little bit more when I have some free time. Here's some more info though on the party:

Save the Date & Celebrate the 2008 Avon Walk Season

AVON WALK GREAT START PARTY!

Saturday, January 26th, 2008
1:00pm - 3:00pm

Scandinavia House - The Nordic Center in America

58 Park Avenue @ 38th Street, New York, NY 10016

Click to RSVP

or call (212) 586-8720
(or click here to view our list of locations nationwide!)

Whether you’re considering your first walk
or you’re a seasoned veteran, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
You’ll feel the excitement as we kick off the new season coast-to-coast.
In just two hours, you’ll get all the information you need to get started
and find out how the Avon Walks continue to make an impact!

Great Start Party Details!

Attend an Introduction Meeting and learn all about the Walk.
Get a sneak peak at the route highlights
Learn about 2008 Teams, Training Walks, and Bonus Cards
Talk to Avon Walk Beneficiaries
Get to know other Avon Walk Participants just like you!
Win Prizes!

Bring Friends and Family

You don’t want to miss this - mark your calendar and RSVP today!

We have yet another new member of the Black Sheep Team - Colleen's neighbor (I think right?) Gigi. This is so cool. There's 6 of us now! I just added my mother-in-laws donation to my page this morning. I have yet to fix and tweak my personal donation page but I'll do that after the holidays are over. I'm psyched for next October already!

I got a package last week from the Avon Walk consisting of a few welcoming things. In it was a cool T-Shirt (and I love getting T-Shirts), the participant handbook (which I haven't had a chance to go through yet), a cool poster (which once it gets closer I'll hang up somewhere in the house), donation coupons (complete with envelopes which is great), and a breast health guide. I can't wait to sit down and go through it all. It's just a bit too crazy right now with the holidays steadily approaching. Once they're over and I have the time, I'll sit and go through it all.

for the Avon Walk is $100 from my mother-in-law. I haven't posted it to my donation page just yet as it was cash and I just put it in my account today, but it will be there soon. I opened up the letter she sent, saw the money, read her note and started crying. She doesn't have the money to give, yet she did anyway. I started walking for her back in 2006 when we found out she had breast cancer. She is now two years clear and is a survivor!!!!!

I've had a few friends show interest in walking in the Avon Walk next October up in New York. They're just worried about the flight up there. Now that I'm a member of the $9 fare club for Spirit I should be able to find us cheap fares. I'm not sure though if I'll be flying up alone or driving up with my family to make it into a week vacation. Or, we could always fly too. There's still some time to figure that all out so we'll see. I'd love it though if my friends joined us! It's going to be a blast!

This was also in an email I received from Avon and this is awesome!

First-Ever Collaborative Summit on Breast Cancer Research Targets New Partnerships and Collaborative Solutions

The Avon Foundation is proud to have initiated the first-ever Collaborative Summit on Breast Cancer Research on November 1-2, 2007 at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, VA ("Lansdowne Summit"). This landmark event brought together more than 100 leadership and senior staff of breast cancer funding organizations, advocacy groups, government agencies, researchers, regulators, industry representatives, and social scientists to discuss topics central to the fight against breast cancer.

Organized under the leadership of Avon's Dr. Marc Hurlbert; facilitated by the Avon Foundation and the Foundation for the NIH; and co-funded by the Avon Foundation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Lansdowne Summit brought together representatives from co-organizers: AACR Foundation, American Cancer Society, the ASCO Foundation, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the National Breast Cancer Coalition, the National Cancer Institute, Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation, and more.

Summit participants appraised the current breast cancer landscape; held frank and open discussions on the current barriers to preventing and curing breast cancer; and developed compelling action steps to expedite progress.
In addition to the specific goals outlined for follow-up, a new paradigm was created for constructive movement towards innovative initiatives, new models, partnership opportunities and potential collaborations.

Several initial action items were developed by consensus, including:
-A "National Breast Cancer Research Planning Committee" will be formed by key funding agencies, including the Avon Foundation, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and other key stakeholders. It will meet periodically to review the breast cancer landscape and national research agenda.
-A common grants database will be developed and the key funding agencies will provide information on their grant awards for inclusion to help identify gaps, opportunities and overlaps. Summary information from this new resource will be extremely helpful in analyzing breast cancer research progress and trends.

This was also in an email I received from Avon about the walk. Thought it would be cool to share.

This holiday Season, show your support for important causes and help make a difference in someone’s life. Support efforts to end breast cancer and domestic violence with an affordable purchase from the Avon fundraising product collection. All of the net proceeds (every penny above the cost of manufacturing) are contributed to grants awarded through the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade or Speak Out Against Domestic Violence programs. Whether you or someone you know has been affected by these causes, or you just want to show your support, there is something for everyone. The collection includes four new products.

The new Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Keychain, a periwinkle-blue rubber key chain with the words “Speak Out” engraved on the nameplate, is available for $5.00, with $3.68 donated to Speak Out. New in the pink ribbon line is the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Lip Balm, a .15 oz lip treatment with SPF 15, priced at $1.50, with $1.33 donated to the Crusade, and the silver-tone Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Locket Necklace with a rhinestone pink ribbon on the front of the locket, priced at just $5.00, with $3.67 returned to the cause. Avon mark. once again shows their support with the brown and pink mark. Breast Cancer Crusade Beloved Jewels Travel Case for $6.00, with $4.00 to the cause.

Each item comes with a free Breast Health or Domestic Violence Resource Guide, in English or Spanish. Order products from your Avon Sales Representative or http://www.avonfoundation.org/.

I received the email below tonight from the Avon Walk.

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series continued to break records in 2007, with the highest levels of participation and donations since its inception in 2003.
Walks were held in 8 cities from May-October;
More than 28,000 walkers and crew participated;
$47 million in donations have already been raised, with monies still coming in;
47 research and access to care grants were presented at closing ceremonies, ensuring that funds raised by the Walks have an immediate impact, with more grants to come.

Since 2003, 74,000 Avon US Walk participants have raised nearly $175 million in donations.

The Avon Walk will kick off its 2008 series with new walk city Houston on April 12-13, 2008. Help set new records at our nine events in 2008. Visit http://www.avonwalk.org/ or call 1-888-540-WALK to register to walk, crew, volunteer or donate.
The 2007 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer thanks National Sponsor: Prevention Magazine; Official Sponsors: Airplus for her, Genentech BioOncology, Novartis Oncology and Reebok; and Official Water: FIJI.

Remember: early detection helps save lives (get mammograms, clinical exams, and perform self exams). Visit www.avonfoundation.org/

The Avon Walk Shop is having a great sale right now. Wouldn't it be nice to surprise that someone you know that is walking in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer next year with something from this shop? They've got sweatshirts on sale, ringer tee's, pants, flip flops and pins all on sale.

I just noticed they're going to have two new locations next year for the event. One in Houston, Texas which will be held on April 12-12 and the other in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado on June 28-29. I'll bet they'll see some beautiful views on the Rocky Mountain walk. Just glad I'm not walking there because of the actual having to walk over mountains part!