Avon, the company for women and foremost advocate of breast cancer, marked the 21st year of Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer (KGBC) with the highly-anticipated launch of its 2013 campaign at the Conservatory of The Peninsula Manila.
Present at the launch were Avon Director for Communications, Asia Pacific and the Philippines Louie Migne, top GMA 7 star and new KGBC Ambassador Solenn Heussaff, and representatives from Avon’s 2013 KGBC partners: Dr. Roberto Paterno (Chairman, Philippine Cancer Society), Dr. Rachael Rosario(Executive Director, Philippine Cancer Society), Felipe L. Gozon (Chairman and CEO, GMA Network Inc.),Jennifer Colayco (Director- Committee on Women and Breastfeeding, SM Supermalls), Josie Gonzalez(AVP for Government and Corporate Affairs, Ford Philippines), and Zhorida Lipayon (Head of Home Entertainment Product Marketing, Sony Philippines.
Themed Do Something Beautiful Against Breast Cancer, this year’s campaign speaks to the Filipino’s innate trait of being matulungin or helpful, doing something for someone because you are capable and are willing to help another in need. It also encourages everyone to show their own brand of support for the cause through a digital platform, accompanied by the hashtag #DoSomethingBeautiful, and of course, deepen and concretize their involvement during in the annual Walk and Run events.
Host Amy Perez opened the evening by encouraging guests to make use of the QR codes displayed by the stage and on standees to download useful information on breast cancer – as there is still no better weapon in fighting the disease than awareness and early detection.
Perez then presented the touching video of KGBC Ambassador Solenn Heussaff, together with her make-up artist friends, when they decided to turn an ordinary day into a beautiful one by making over some courageous breast cancer patients and survivors.
According to Heussaff, the experience was truly remarkable. “I didn’t realize until then that what I thought was a simple gesture of putting on make-up on them could create such an impact on these women. It inspired me to do more for the cause.”
The talented television personality, model, host and make-up artist, has in fact been using her influence online to engage and encourage followers and social media communities to get involved in the campaign by posting, tweeting and joining the Avon KGBC Run and Walk Events on October 13 at the SM Mall of Asia Open Grounds.
Guests were further drawn in as a panel composed of Louie Migne, Dr. Rachel Rosario, Philippine General Hospital Breast Care Center attending nurse Ellen Lucero, and breast cancer survivor Leonida Severino talked about why the breast cancer cause should matter to every Filipino, and how small steps and actions amount to considerable progress in the fight against the life threatening condition.
Faith Fernandez Aranton, Avon’s Head of PR and Communications Philippines joined Heussaff and Migne as the leading beauty brand awarded the 2013 KGBC partners with the Breast Cancer Advocacy Partnership Ribbon in recognition for their contributions to the cause. Finally, Heussaff led everyone into making a commitment by asking attendees to send out beautiful tweets that eventually revealed the KGBC poster on screen.
Avon’s annual Walk and Run Events are slated on October 13 at the SM Mall of Asia Open Grounds. Registration for the KGBC Run is on going at the following Chris Sports Branches: SM North Edsa; SM Megamall; SM Mall of Asia; Glorietta 3, Makati; Festival Mall, Alabang; and Fitness and Athletics (The Fort).
You can also register online and get more details about the cause at www.avon.com.phor facebook.com/AvonPhilippines, and @AvonPH on Twitter and Instagram.
For a registration fee of Php550 for the 5k event and Php700 for the 10k event, individuals will receive the Avon KGBC Race Kit, which already includes a singlet, race number and giveaway.
To join the Walk Event, simply purchase the 2013 KGBC T-shirt for only P220 from an Avon representative. Proceeds from the events will go to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Breast Care Center and selected provincial hospitals.
