PRESS RELEASE £20 Million Milestone is Met-The MoonWalk Scotland!

Walkers went wild as they celebrated reaching an incredible £20 million fundraising milestone at The MoonWalk Scotland, on Saturday 10^th June.

Before the first step was even taken, organisers breast cancer charity Walk the Walk announced that an amazing £430,000 had been raised by people taking part in this year’s event. Bringing the fundraising total over the last 12 years of The MoonWalk Scotland to a phenomenal £20 million.  

Ze-bras were out in force along with elephants, monkeys and parrots as thousands of women and men donned jungle-safari themed decorated bras to raise money and awareness for breast cancer whilst completing the walking challenges.

Starting and finishing at Holyrood Park, Walkers swung past some of Edinburgh’s most iconic landmarks, many of which were lit up pink, including Lloyds on the Mound, Arthur’s Seat, Queen Victoria at The National Galleries, and St Giles Cathedral.

Most of the money raised from the event stays in Scotland to help improve the lives of people with cancer now. Around 4,600 women and men in Scotland are diagnosed with breast cancer each year*.

Walker Di Winstone, from Porthlethen, completed the Full Moon (26.2 miles), having only finished treatment for breast cancer last October and has raised £4,000. She said:

“At the beginning it was very daunting and especially on my own, but once the sun came up, the support from my family on the route got me through. It was so emotional, so soon after my treatment, but an amazing achievement. I just want to inspire other women with breast cancer.”

Best-selling crime writer, Val McDermid, from Edinburgh, completed the Half Moon (13.1 miles). She said: “It was a real treat to walk around the city in the quiet without the traffic and the crowds. It’s not often you get a treat like that when you’re doing something worthwhile, and raising awareness for a charity like Walk the Walk.”

Irene and Graham McIntosh from Inverkip walked the Full Moon in flamboyant monkey outfits. Irene said: “The MoonWalk puts the fun into Fundraising for us, it was a fantastic night and we just love it. It’s our privilege to raise as much money as possible for this worthwhile cause.

Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk said: “It was a perfect night for a MoonWalk, with a full moon and really fabulous walkers in good spirits. Clearly lots of people have been putting lots of miles under their belts before taking part and we had some very quick times. One of the highlights for me was seeing all of our ten year olds and youngest walkers coming through the New Moon (6.55 miles) finish line with big smiles on their faces and absolutely thrilled to be receiving their well-deserved medals!”

For more information, and to register your interest for The MoonWalk Scotland 2018 visit www.walkthewalk.org  

For more information, photographs and quotes, contact:

• Sally Orr at Walk the Walk. 07796 080 675  [email protected] 

Notes to editors:

*Source: Breast Cancer Now, January 2017 

Walk the Walk 

• Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive, set up and now runs Walk the Walk Worldwide.
• Walk the Walk specialises in fitness and Power Walking challenges.
• HRH The Prince of Wales is the official Patron of Walk the Walk.
• Walk the Walk has so far raised in excess of £119 million.
• As a grant-making charity, all funds are raised for Walk the Walk and then granted to where the charity feels they will do the most good.
• Walk the Walk funds are granted to projects that not only support research, important to all our future health, but also support a variety of projects that are supporting cancer patients now throughout the UK.
• Walk the Walk is the principal funder of the Maggie’s Centre at Gartnavel, Glasgow and of the new centre at the Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert. A grant was also made towards the Lanarkshire Centre in the grounds of Monklands Hospital in Airdrie.
• Walk the Walk has also funded the renovation of Ward 6, a new theatre and renovation of the Mammography Unit at the Breast Cancer Institute at Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital.
• Walk the Walk is committed to providing funding to hospitals across Scotland and the UK to purchase Scalp Cooling systems, special machines which are helping many people undergoing chemotherapy to retain their hair. Walk the Walk has funded 54 Scalp Coolers in 25 Scottish hospitals.
• Over 1,000 Volunteers will be required to help at The MoonWalk Scotland.
• ‘The MoonWalk’ is the flagship event of the charity currently held in London, Scotland and Iceland.