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The weather has been beautiful for the 2002 Avon 3 Day Walk for Breast Cancer in Atlanta, but the future is stormy for this very popular event. This will be the last year in Atlanta for the 3 day walk. Next year, several 1 day walks will be sponsered, but Atlanta was not chosen as one of the host cities.
Why bring a halt to such a popular fundraising event? The main fault seems to lie with the company behind the walks, Pallotta TeamWorks. The for profit company created by a Harvard graduate with a dream to bring corporate business ideals to charity and fundraising seems to have taken some pointers from the World Com's and Enron's of the world. Rumors have been flying for the past year of the shady business practices taking place at Pallotta TeamWorks. The complaints first came from AIDS agencies, because Pallotta also sponsored AIDS bike ride fundraisers among other events. The AIDS agencies were complaining that they were not receiving their share of the donations. These complaints mushroomed to the point that Pallotta TeamWorks shut its doors in late August, with 3 events still on the horizon to produce, including the Atlanta walk.
Avon vowed the walks would go on, and they have. The Atlanta walk has proceeded from Lake Lanier to Piedmont Park, a total of 60 miles. As with the other 3 day walk events, participants live in a "tent city" to take care of all of their basic needs while they just focus on walking. In 2001, over 4 million dollars was raised by Atlantans for the walk. No doubt, the Pallotta troubles will dampen the contributions to some extent. This is just one of many events Avon sponsors in the name of breast cancer research, so Avon's Breast Cancer Crusade will continue.
Of course, raising money for breast cancer research is a very noble goal, but the walks that Avon sponsored also offered an emotional life experience for the men and women that participated in them. Many breast cancer survivors used the walks as part of their healing process. While perhaps the 3 day walk really was too much to produce on a yearly basis, the idea of the journey, of struggle and triumph, is seldom seen in modern society. Perhaps another corporate entity or non profit organization will carry on the torch and offer a similar opportunity in the near future.
In the meantime, Atlantans interested in breast cancer information can turn to the Georgia Breast Cancer Coalition which lists support groups and other helpful resources. While the Avon Walk will be missed here in Atlanta, the race for a cure will continue to go on.
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