The Avon Foundation and Avon Foundation Honorary Chairperson Reese Witherspoon are using this October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to kick off the Kiss Breast Cancer Goodbye grassroots campaign to motivate people to use lips to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and access to care.

Reese Witherspoon says, «Kiss Breast Cancer Goodbye is the Crusade’s latest call to action against this disease that touches all of us. Here in the United States, one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes. I am proud to stand with the Avon Foundation for Women in this important crusade to raise both awareness and funds that will save lives.»

Avon has created a fun online tool that people can activate to remind one another of the many resources available to manage breast health. «Pass the Kiss On» is a customizable online widget, available at www.PasstheKissOn.org, featuring Reese Witherspoon and a pair of «talking» lips. People can send family and friends a personalized message expressing support, urging them to get a mammogram, and encouraging them to pass the message along.

This October Avon also launches its latest fund-raising product, the Lips for Life tote. Priced at $5 each, 100% of net proceeds ($3.74) will go to Avon Breast Cancer Crusade beneficiaries, including leading cancer research and clinical centers, and community-based, non-profit breast health education programs. The tote is available at PasstheKissOn.org and through Avon Representatives, by calling 1-800-FOR-AVON in the USA or by visiting www.avon.com.

«Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. We are encouraging everyone to spread the word that early detection and treatment can save lives,» says Carol Kurzig, President of the Avon Foundation for Women. Over the last decade, the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade has raised and donated nearly $700 million to accelerate research and improve access to breast cancer care in more than 50 countries.