Curves Pledges $1 Million to the
Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre Appeal

Curves of Independence/Seven Hills, part of the world's largest fitness franchisor, today announced that it is joining Australian superstar Olivia Newton-John in the fight against cancer. Curves is a worldwide presenting sponsor of The Great Walk to Beijing 2008 -- a fundraiser that will benefit the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre Appeal -- and has pledged a minimum $1 million donation to the event.

Curves of Independence/Seven Hills will participate in the fundraiser through an April in-club promotion that will have members "walking along" as Olivia Newton-John, Curves founder Diane Heavin, and other celebrities, sports heroes, business leaders, corporate partners, and cancer survivors trek 142 miles (228 km) over some of the oldest and steepest portions of the Great Wall of China. The Great Walk to Beijing 2008 begins April 7 and ends with a triumphal entry into Beijing on April 29.

"Curves is a natural choice to be a primary sponsor of the Walk," said Olivia Newton-John, a breast cancer survivor. "Research has shown that obesity increases cancer risk and Curves is a program that effectively fights obesity on a worldwide basis."

"We're thrilled to join Olivia in the fight against all types of cancer," said Laura Danis, owner of Curves of Independence/Seven Hills. "We help women get strong and healthy and fight deadly diseases on a daily basis -- from diabetes and heart disease to hypertension and more. This is a chance for us to fight cancer worldwide, and to have fun and get fit doing it."

Curves of Independence/Seven Hills will promote the event throughout April with posters, contests, and special events. Curves members can "get on the Wall" with an initial donation and earn "kilometers" that will propel them toward "Beijing" through additional donations, workouts, and other fun activities. Curves members who complete all 228 kilometers will be entered in a drawing to win a share in thousands of dollars in prizes from Curves International and Curves Travel.

Curves members who've battled cancer will be honored and remembered on the Walk. "I've seen what cancer can do to individuals and their families," said Heavin. "So I'm walking in honor of every Curves member who has had to deal with the devastating effects of cancer, and in memory of every Curves member who has lost her life to it. To make that a reality, I'll be reading the names of those Curves members daily during the Walk." Members can submit their names or the names of other Curves members on the Curves members-only Web site, MyCurves.com.

Anyone can take part in the Walk by logging onto www.greatwalktobeijing.com and sponsoring Olivia, Diane or any of the other walkers on the journey.

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