Team COURAGE, a group of 19 residents from Moore and Hoke counties, will participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on Oct. 25-26 in Charlotte.

The group will raise funds and awareness to help defeat breast cancer and support those facing the disease. Team members will participate in the noncompetitive event by completing a marathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles).

"Thanks to thousands of people like Team COURAGE, we are able to save lives by providing significant funds for vital breast cancer research as well as access to care, screening, support services and education," said Carol Kurzig, executive director of the Avon Foundation, the public charity that produces the events. "The continued commitment of those who participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer events gives us hope that one day we will know a world without breast cancer."

The Avon Walk in Charlotte is one of nine weekend walks taking place across the nation in 2008. Each walker raises at least $1,800 in donations, and each Avon Walk attracts several thousand participants.

While each of the Team COURAGE members has distinct reasons for participating in the Avon Walk, all of them say the fundraising campaign is not about them. It's about finding a cure for cancer.

Members of Team COURAGE have been raising funds individually by asking for the support of friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members. So far, they have raised more than $9,000, and the team now is ranked sixth in the Charlotte area.

To raise additional funds, Team COURAGE also is providing concession sales on the weekends at Heritage Campground and Lake near Whispering Pines, which is open to the public.

This week, Team COURAGE introduced official T-shirts that are available to the public for a minimum $15 donation. The pink or gray T-shirts bear the slogans "Fight Like A Girl" or "Fight For the Girls," pink breast cancer awareness ribbons and boxing gloves. The shirts are available at The Clothes Horse Boutique (next to the Fresh Market) as well as Fix and Flex Personal Fitness Gym and Gold's Gym, all in Southern Pines.

Team COURAGE thanked local merchants for their support: Heritage Campground and Lake, The Clothes Horse in Southern Pines, Mac's Breakfast Anytime in Southern Pines, Moe's Southwest Grill in Aberdeen, Richmond Rentals in Southern Pines, Harris Teeter in Southern Pines, Lowes Foods in Southern Pines, Don's Variety Shop in Cameron and JEB Designs in Fayetteville.

The team's fundraising goal is at least $34,200. To support Team COURAGE's fundraising campaign, donations can be sent to Team Courage, c/o The Clothes Horse, 163 Beverly Lane, Southern Pines, NC, 28387. Anyone needing more information can e-mail the team at team.courage@yahoo.com for additional information.