By Natalie MAIER

Fighters are outfitting themselves with walking shoes rather than boxing gloves for the 11th Annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer taking place the weekend of Sept. 7-8 in Santa Barbara.

Walkers have the choice of completing a traditional marathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles) over a two-day period that begins Saturday morning at Chase Palm Park and ends Sunday at Carpinteria State Beach. Each participant must raise a minimum of $1,800 in donations or sponsorships. Last year, the Santa Barbara walk raised $4.7 million.

La Crescenta resident Natalee MacDonald will be lacing up for this year’s walk. Her goal is to raise $2,000 for breast cancer research. Thus far she has raised between $800 and $900. MacDonald decided to participate in the walk because breast cancer has impacted her family. She also has friends who are survivors and some who are still struggling in their fight.

“I know many women in the La Crescenta area who have battled breast cancer,” MacDonald said. “They are the ones who have inspired me.”

The money raised by MacDonald and the other thousands of Avon Walk participants benefit the Avon Foundation for Women. The money will help ensure that any woman facing a breast cancer diagnosis gets the care they need regardless of their ability to pay. In addition, funds are dedicated for breast cancer research.

MacDonald said that currently her team is open for more people to join. She has already been organizing training walks around the Rose Bowl in preparation for Santa Barbara.

Those who wish to donate to MacDonald can visit http://info.avonfoundation.org/goto/natalee or email her at avonwalklacrescenta@gmail.com.

For more information or to register for an Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, visit www.avonwalk.org or call 888-541-WALK.

  Natalie MAIER