Contact: Beth Doyle 727-577-3636 badoyle@juno.com

AMY YODER BEGLEY WINS

AVON WALKING AND RUNNING -- TAMPA BAY

Nearly $5,000 Raised To Fight Heart Disease In Women

Tampa - November 17, 2001 - Amy Yoder Begley, 23, of Kendallville, Indiana, captured the Avon Walking & Running-Tampa Bay 10K title today with a winning time of 33:50. More than 1,000 women and girls of every age and fitness level participated in this year's event, which included a 10K run (6.2 miles), 5K walk/run (3.1 miles), a Kids' Dash, as well as the new Avon Wellness Village.

As the Avon Walking & Running-Tampa Bay champion, Begley took home the $500 first prize. She also won an expense-paid trip to Phoenix, Arizona for the Avon Running National Championship on December 9th where winners from all preceding U.S. events will vie for the national title alongside women of every age and ability.

Ramilia Burangulova, whose hometown is Moscow, Russia, finished second overall winning $250 with a time of 34:19, and Tatyana Pozdnyakova whose hometown is Vinnitza, Ukraine, finished third, winning $150 with a time of 35:53. Judy Maguire, 42, of Clearwater, won $100 as the top Master finisher with a time of 37:09.

Karen Yokley, of Topeka, Kansas, was the winner of the Avon Representative division. Both Maguire and Yokley won expense-paid trips to the Avon Running National Championship, but since Yokley already won a trip as a result of winning the Avon Representative Division in the Kansas City race, the trip went to Jonie Davis of Hilliard, Florida.

The Avon Walking & Running program is the only international series of its kind that provides women the opportunity to pursue elite racing, moderate running or simple fitness in unified events. Held in 12 countries, Tampa is one of eight cities to host the event this year. For more information on all the events, go to avonrunning.com.

Kathrine Switzer, Program Director for Avon Walking and Running, presented two checks for a combined $4,500 to St. Joseph's Women's Hospital together with St. Joseph's Heart Institute, the charitable beneficiary of this year's event. Other donations were made to St. Joseph's through Avon's "Say Hello to a Healthy Heart" pledge campaign.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women. It is the cause of death more often than all cancers combined. It is estimated that one-third of these deaths can be prevented by simple exercise. Avon Walking and Running - Tampa Bay is designed to help women of every age and fitness level take control of their health and fitness by promoting walking and running - time-efficient, cost-effective and accessible exercise options that help women build confidence and self-esteem, while improving their physical health and lowering their risk of cardiovascular disease.

For 10 weeks prior to the November 17th event, 340 women and girls participated in weekly training clinics conducted by St. Joseph's Fitness Center and the Tampa Bay Runners, the host organization of Avon Walking and Running - Tampa Bay.

Avon is the world's leading direct seller of beauty and related products, with $5.7 billion in annual revenues. For more than a century, Avon has provided women with economic opportunity and financial independence, and the company currently markets to women in 139 countries through 3.4 million independent sales representatives. Avon is committed to women through programs such as the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, the Avon Worldwide Fund for Women's Health, and Avon Global Women's Health: Walking, Running and Wellness. Product lines include such recognizable brands as Anew, Skin-So-Soft, Avon Techniques Hair Care, beComing and Avon Wellness. The company also markets an extensive line of fashion jewelry, apparel, gifts and collectibles.

More information on Avon and its products and programs can be found on the company's website www.avon.com.

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