“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, 18,000 walkers and 1,500 runners from different walks of life heeded this passionate call to arms as they came together in Manila, Bacolod, Lucena and Cagayan de Oro 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.

Held at the SM Mall of Asia Open Grounds, SM Bacolod, SM Lucena, Avon Cagayan de Oro and SM Baguio, Step Out!  Against Breast  Cancer  saw  countless  staunch  supporters of the cause, including well-known  personalities  and  special  guests,  coming together in unity.

The Manila event was hosted by Avon Breast Cancer Crusade ambassador and popular actress Iza Calzado, along with fellow personalities Arnold Clavio, Susan Enriquez, Pia Archangel, Love Añover and Luane Dy.  The Manila program kicked off with the run, followed by an exhilarating pre-walk program.

In  his  welcome  message,  Avon Philippines President and General Manager, Mike  Gudgin, shared his gratitude for such an 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."

The 2010 Manila walk was led by guests of Honor US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr., Bb. Pilipinas Universe Venus Raj, Avon officials, and representatives from campaign partners Philippine Cancer Society, GMA Network, Globe Telecom, SM Supermalls, The Peninsula Manila, Reebok, Rotary International District 3780, I Can Serve and Bosom Buddies.

KGBC was launched locally in partnership with the Philippine Cancer Society in 2002. Funds raised from the 2002 campaign has helped Avon establish the Philippine  General Hospital’s (PGH) Breast Care Center, and even install a Mammography  Unit  there.  KGBC campaigns in the succeeding years have also raised financial support for the treatment of indigents, initiation of support groups, undertaking of regular gatherings for sufferers and survivors, 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 for P109, in which 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.