Reese Witherspoon Joins Walk to Support Breast Cancer Cause

Reese Witherspoon cheerfully joined more than 3,500 women participating in The Sixth Annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Washington D.C. over the weekend.

Together they walked 26.2 miles on Saturday and 13.1 miles on Sunday to raise money for breast-cancer awareness, treatment and research.

As the honorary chairwoman of Avon Foundation, the 32-year-old actress was more than happy to take part in such an event. “I've always been very focused on creating positive images and doing things to give back to women,” Witherspoon said, as quoted by the USA Today.

She was all smiles while taking participants through Georgetown and into Bethesda before the walk concluding at City Center Events Plaza on Ninth Street Northwest, where she presented grants to area hospitals and research centers, including a $1.25 million grant to Johns Hopkins Medical Center.

“I feel a great responsibility in my own life to give back to society. As the honorary chairman of the Avon Foundation, one of my first experiences last year was to meet Avon Walk walkers at a training walk in Los Angeles. Now I am proud to support the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer here in Washington, D.C., and hope my presence can in some measure express my deep appreciation for all the women and men who participate in the Avon Walks and for all of the people who dedicate their lives to breast cancer research and care,” Witherspoon said, according to Los Angeles Times.

Pink ribbons were handed out to participants every three minutes to represent how often an American is diagnosed with breast cancer.

The walk raised more than $8 million for research and outreach.

Breast cancer is the second greatest killer among women nationwide. According to an American Cancer Society survey released last year, in New York, 20 percent to 30 percent of breast cancer cases from 2000-2004 were fatal.