From Girl Power … to Power Walking! As the internationally renowned Spice Girls finished ‘zig-a-zig-ah-ing’ the City of Edinburgh last Saturday night, another extravaganza was hitting the streets of the Capital – The MoonWalk Scotland.
The world famous decorated bras were the highlight of the night! Women and men were inspired by this year’s special “Circus” theme, creating colourful bras that had passers-by checking to see if the Big Top really had come to town!
Organised by breast cancer charity Walk the Walk, what at first glance may have looked like a bit of fun, really was a huge challenge. Children aged 10 and over walked 6.5 miles – many taking part in their first charity event – women and men walked half and full marathons and a few completed a double marathon 52.4 miles, all starting at Midnight!
Throughout the years, many celebrities have created bras to help Walk the Walk raise awareness, from the Spice Girls in 1997, to this year’s bras signed by The Proclaimers, Tunnock’s and Val McDermid and created by various designers. These bras are used in exhibitions to highlight the fight against breast cancer.
Now in its 23rd year, Walk the Walk has raised over £131 million (£21.5 million in Scotland).
Helping to add to that total this year is Edinburgh woman Lynn Laing.
“I decided to do my first Moonwalk this year to celebrate me going into my 10th year clear of breast cancer in January next year”, said Lynn. “I have always wanted to do it my never thought that I would get round the course.
“I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer which had spread to my lymph nodes in January 2010. I had a right mastectomy, 6 rounds of chemotherapy, 4 weeks of radiotherapy and 18 sessions of the drug Herceptin.
“I was exhausted but just took it a day at a time though the toughest of times. I am now going to be celebrating a decade soon which is something I did not think I would ever get to.
“I did the moonwalk with my friend and neighbour Colette – and I have signed up for next years to celebrate!”
Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk, Nina Barough CBE said: “The MoonWalk Scotland 2019 was the most awe-inspiring night! Having all our ten year old walkers on the stage, full of excitement at their very first Walk the Walk challenge was just wonderful.
“I explained the importance of what the youngsters were doing and I think it shocked people to imagine that they will be in their forties by the time we expect to have a cure for breast cancer. I think that reason alone should keep people walking, so that we can give their generation the chance of life, which currently doesn’t exist.
“It was very clear that people had really trained and it was just so overwhelming impressive. Currently, we’re hoping to raise in excess of around half a million pounds – watch this space!”
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