Dr. Margaret Young of Cooperstown will be using one of her favorite activities to help raise money for a cause close to her heart in May, and she is asking for help from area residents.

Young is one of 5,000 walkers who have pledged to walk 60 miles from Leominster to Boston in the "Avon 3-Day Walk" May 18-20, part of the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, a nationwide breast cancer organization.

As a participant, Young is required to raise $1,900, but said she has already raised $7,500, thanks to a $5,000 donation from one contributor.

"My goal is to raise $10,000," Young said. "I have about 160 pledge forms still out there, so I think I can do it.

The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade includes nine walks from May to October around the country and close to 25,000 participants.

The "3-Day Walks", an annual series of fundraising events, take place in 2001 in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Colorado, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC. During each event, participants will walk approximately 60 miles over three days to raise money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer.

"We'll walk about 20 miles a day depending on the weather and terrain," Young said. "They provided water, lunch and tent camps, and all we have to worry about is walking."

Young, an avid walker for the past five or six years, said she has been 25-30 miles a week, and recently took a 12-mile walk to prepare for the Avon walk.

"About three weeks before the walk, three of us are going to walk around the lake, which is about 26 miles, just to make sure I can do it," Young said.

Young said she decided to do the walk and raise money after a friend from college was diagnosed with metastic disease recently.

"I need to honor her and all those who have battled or will have to do battle with this horrible disease," she said.

Since the company's first event in 1994, Pallotta TeamWorks, the creator and producer of the 3-Days, events have netted more than $150 million.

Young said anyone interested in pledging should call 547-3255, and her secretary can mail out a pledge form. Pledges need to be received by April 15.

For more information on the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Days, to register to walk, crew or volunteer, or to pledge financial support, please call toll-free (888) 3DAY AVON or visit their websites at www.breastcancer3day.org and www.avoncrusade.com.