Press Release

Join Christine Hamilton and walk for 2 charities at once!

Autumn Walk at Kew Gardens
Sun 8 October 2006 , starting at 9.45am
In aid of Breast Cancer Campaign and Kew's Medicinal Plants Appeal

This autumn, Breast Cancer Campaign and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew are joining together once again to organise a 5km sponsored walk through the historic and beautiful settings of Kew Gardens on Sunday, 8 October.

The walk will take place during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and will take in some of the Gardens' most famous features such as the Palm House and the Pagoda.

Writer and broadcaster Christine Hamilton will start the walk as Campaign's Friendship Walk ambassador; ‘‘Running is all very well (but jolly energetic and perhaps not for all of us!) however, many people prefer just a Sunday stroll with friends and family. Why not join me, and take part in the Autumn Walk on Sunday, 8 October.”

By taking part in this sponsored walk you can help raise vital funds to continue researching the cure for breast cancer and unlock the potential of British plants in aiding modern medicine.

Last year's Autumn Walk raised over £21,000, thanks to the generosity of all the walkers and their friends and families. This year we hope to raise over £25,000, with all profits from the walk being shared equally between Breast Cancer Campaign and Kew's Medicinal Plants Appeal.

Breast Cancer Campaign is the only charity that specialises in funding independent research into breast cancer throughout the UK. Every year over 41,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a leading centre for study into the uses of plants in medicine and Kew scientists are now undergoing a major project to investigate 300 species of British native plants by the end of 2008 to find the plants with the most promising medicinal properties. The research has already been scientifically rewarding and will help Kew develop future plant based treatments and cures for a wide range of diseases, including cancer.

Notes to Editors

The Autumn Walk on Sunday, 8 October 2006 begins at 9.45am at the Main Gate (off Kew Green) at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Registration for the walk is £5 per adult with children 16 years and under free.

If you would like to participate please contact Breast Cancer Campaign's Events Team on 020 7749 3716 or email autumnwalk@breastcancercampaign.org.

For further information please contact:

Lauren Bird, Oliver Basciano or Anna Quenby in the Kew Gardens Press Office on 020 8332 5607, email pr@kew.org.

Or Catherine Miller, Sporting Events Media Officer, Breast Cancer Campaign on 020 7749 3720, email cmiller@breastcancercampaign.org.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Kew Gardens is a major international visitor attraction and its 132 hectares of landscaped gardens attract over one million visitors per year. Kew was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003 and represents over 250 years of historical landscape. The site houses over 40 listed buildings and other structures including the Palm House, Temperate House, Orangery and Pagoda as well as two ancient monuments, Queen Charlotte's Cottage and Kew Palace . RBG, Kew is a world famous scientific organisation, internationally respected for its outstanding living collection of plants and world-class herbarium as well as its scientific expertise in plant diversity, conservation and sustainable development in the UK and around the world. www.kew.org.

Breast Cancer Campaign
Breast Cancer Campaign's aim is to find the cure for breast cancer by funding research which looks at improving diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, better understanding how it develops and ultimately either curing the disease or preventing it.

Over the past 11 years Campaign has awarded 141 grants with a total value of over £14.5 million to universities, medical schools/teaching hospitals and research institutes across the UK . www.breastcancercampaign.org.

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