PRESS RELEASE: Cast of thousands brings Hollywood to Holyrood
Scotland's Capital City was touched last night by a huge sprinkling of Hollywood Glamour.
Scotland's Capital City was touched last night by a huge sprinkling of Hollywood Glamour.
A cast of thousands Walked the Walk of Fame at the spectacular MoonWalk Scotland, the costumes were decorated bras, which could have been straight out of Tinsel Town. All raising money and awareness for breast cancer.
Many Edinburgh landmarks added to the glamour by lighting up pink.
This blockbuster, organised by breast cancer charity Walk the Walk has already raised almost half a million pounds, with more expected to come in over the coming months.
A special feature for 2018 was that all the men wore special pink t-shirts, printed with blue checked bras and the message that "men get breast cancer too".
It was a night full of fun and also emotion as many of these amazing women and men were walking to give something back for the treatment they received after their breast cancer diagnosis. Many were also walking in memory of a loved one.
Wayne Davy, from Galashiels and his family completed the Full Moon distance in memory of his Mum, Diana, who sadly passed away a few months ago. Diana did The MoonWalk herself in 2017 and had already signed up to take part again this year. Wayne said: "I feel chuffed that I've done it - we were doing The MoonWalk for Mum because she couldn't do it. There was a lot of pain on the walk, but we couldn't have done it without the team. Our thoughts were with Mum every step of the way as we only lost her in January, so it's still really fresh. She would have been so proud of us".
Jean Hall, from Edinburgh, also completed the Full Moon. In 2010 Jean was diagnosed with breast cancer and was treated at The Breast Cancer Institute at The Western General Hospital, who have received a grant from Walk the Walk to help fund their work. Jean said: "We thought all the volunteers were brilliant - the official volunteers, as well as the people who opened up their gardens all the way round and gave us food were just fantastic. Their support was incredible. I was so glad to do The MoonWalk again. Everyone had a reason for walking. Twelve years since the last time, it was a very wee way of saying thank you."
Walk the Walk's Founder and Chief Executive Nina Barough CBE said: "It was an Oscar winning night – it was fabulous! During the afternoon, it was touch and go because of the very dramatic weather patterns coming in. Everyone was arriving, saying what torrential rain they'd had but it did not touch us. People were smiling and it was just a really joyful night. Everybody was there for a personal reason, but when it comes down to it – it's knowing that while you are all there for your personal reason, you are also all joining together to raise money for something which is so important".
ENDS
For more information, photographs and quotes, contact:
- Sally Orr at Walk the Walk. 07796 080 675 [email protected]
Notes to editors:
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 £125 million.
- As a grant-making charity, all funds are raised for Walk the Walk are 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 Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert. A grant was also made towards the Lanark Centre in the grounds of Monklands Hospital in Airdrie. Maggie's Centres offer support to people diagnosed with all types of cancer, as well as providing emotional support for their families.
- 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 57 Scalp Coolers in 26 Scottish hospitals.
- 'The MoonWalk' is the flagship event of the charity currently held in London, Scotland and Iceland.