Scotland on Sunday teams up with MoonWalk to raise cancer cash

SCOTLAND on Sunday has teamed up with MoonWalk Edinburgh, the charity night walk to raise money for breast cancer research.

Now gearing up for its third year, MoonWalk Edinburgh will promise the city's biggest midnight mardi-gras marathon, covering the streets with a colourful spectacle of 10,000 people walking 26 miles wearing decorated bras.

Entries will open on Wednesday and the event will be held on Saturday, June 14, at the Meadows, Edinburgh. This year, Scotland on Sunday has agreed to be the official newspaper partner.

MoonWalk is run by the charity Walk the Walk, which has already raised in excess of £35m for breast cancer causes at various events across Britain.

These include the MoonWalk events in London and the SunWalk in Bristol, with the 2007 Edinburgh MoonWalk raising £4m to date and money still coming in.

Walk the Walk is aimed at promoting power-walking for fitness, and raising awareness of breast cancer and encouraging people to adopt a healthy, preventative lifestyle.

The charity was set up 11 years ago by Nina Barough, when she and her friends decided to power-walk the New York marathon in decorated bras to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research. Barough did this despite having no experience at that time of fundraising, taking part in a marathon or knowing anyone affected by breast cancer.

However, in January 1997, she discovered that she had an aggressive breast cancer tumour herself and underwent treatment, which included a mastectomy, radiotherapy and tamoxifen.

She encouraged friends to power-walk the London marathon to support her cause. The next year, she set up the first MoonWalk for those who had failed to get a place on the Marathon and the event has grown in popularity since.

Barough said yesterday: "After two incredibly successful years, we can't wait for year three in Edinburgh. With the tremendous fundraising that has been achieved, we are now able to make a considerable difference to the lives of many cancer patients in Scotland.

"This night is very special to Walk the Walk. The beauty and spirit of the city conjures up a very special atmosphere for the MoonWalk, attracting people from Scotland and all corners of the world. We want this year to be even bigger and better to help us reach our £3m 2008 fundraising goal."

Scotland on Sunday editor Les Snowdon said: "We are delighted to be involved in this remarkable event. Having witnessed the efforts of the thousands of participants last year, I was full of admiration for every one of the walkers. Hopefully, we can help maximise the amount of money that is raised for charity."

Money raised by the MoonWalks has gone to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, to research and develop new methods to diagnose, treat and prevent breast cancer, and to the Generation Study - the biggest investigation to be undertaken into the causes of breast cancer. Most of the money raised in Scotland goes to Scottish charities, including Maggie's Centres, the Breast Cancer Institute and Breast Foot Forward.

'Everyone was united ... it was really emotional'

LEONA Levey took part in last year's MoonWalk Edinburgh despite undergoing a gruelling treatment regime for breast cancer.

Levey has been having treatment for the disease since being diagnosed five years ago after she found a lump in her breast during a routine self-examination.

The 39-year-old mother-of-two, a PE teacher and gymnastics coach, has had a mastectomy as well as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone treatment.

She walked the 26 miles last year with a group of friends, who raised £2,000 in sponsorship. They are now considering entering the 2008 event.

Levey, who lives in Edinburgh, said: "The atmosphere was fantastic, it was really buzzing with everyone united in the same cause. There was a feeling of togetherness because many people had a connection to breast cancer in some way.

"It was really charged and emotional."

She suffered blisters on her hands and feet during the walk because of her chemotherapy, yet was spurred on by friends throughout the night.

She added: "My skin was blistering, cracked and tender but I was not going to stop. I had not done a lot of training for the event because of the skin problems so I got really tired. It was a mental challenge as well as a physical challenge.

"The last three or four miles were pure adrenaline."

Levey is still having chemotherapy but says she is now feeling well and believes her condition is under control. She said: "It has not stopped me working and I am feeling a lot better than I have done in the past."

Taking part

To take part in next year's MoonWalk Edinburgh on June 14, visit www.walkthewalk.org. From Wednesday, enter online on the website or download an entry form. Alternatively, pick up an entry form from Thursday in high street stores - www.walkthewalk.org has a list of stockists