PRESS RELEASE - Quotes and more free to use images from The MoonWalk Scotland 2023

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The streets of Edinburgh were a sea of colour on Saturday night (9th Sept), as women, men and young people took on walking challenges at The MoonWalk Scotland.

Women, men and young people wearing brightly decorated bras or “bra t-shirts” set off from Holyrood Park at 11pm, to walk a half or full marathon through the capital.

Organised by breast cancer charity Walk the Walk, the first MoonWalk Scotland was staged in 2006. Since then, walkers have raised almost £22 million, which is granted across Scotland to help support those living with cancer.

Walk the Walk recently awarded £50,000 to the charity Cancer Support Scotland, to help reduce the waiting list for Scottish cancer patients and their families, who are in desperate need of emotional and wellbeing support.

Rachel Jones (59) from Edinburgh completed the 26.2 miles Full Moon. Rachel was diagnosed with breast cancer in She 2023, having battled for almost a year to be examined in person by her GP. Rachel said;

“I’m chuffed to bits to have completed The MoonWalk with my daughter, sister, nieces and closest friend. It was quite an incredible experience: amazing volunteers, very non-traditional Edinburgh weather and a cause we all truly believe in. For me, personally, it was particularly humbling to be fundraising knowing that MoonWalk organisers breast cancer charity Walk the Walk funded the unit which treated me at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. And here I am, less than five months after a mastectomy, walking the walk! “
Fiona Watson, (56) from Elgin, took part in her first Moonwalk, completing the 13.1 miles Half Moon. Fiona has been on constant treatment for secondary breast cancer since 2014. She said:

“Our team thoroughly enjoyed completing the Half Moon. It was uplifting and challenging, amongst many other emotions, and there was a tremendous feeling of unity throughout the night - the organisers and the volunteers were first class from start to finish. The warmth we experienced from the city of Edinburgh was immeasurable and we are also quite overwhelmed and humbled by the generosity of all our sponsors. By taking part in The MoonWalk, I hope I’ve raised awareness that it is possible for anyone newly diagnosed with breast cancer (or indeed secondary breast cancer) to still lead a relatively normal life”.
Many buildings and landmarks across Edinburgh lit up pink throughout the night in honour of Walk the Walk’s amazing walkers and volunteers. These included Edinburgh Castle; Camera Obscura; Lloyds on the Mound; Royal Society; Edinburgh; Victoria Quay, Leith, Radisson Blu Hotel; St. Andrew’s House; Prestonfield House Hotel; Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk, said:-

“What an incredible night! It was wonderful to see so many people taking part, including a large number who were totally new to MoonWalking. Together, everyone was uniting not only to raise awareness of breast cancer, but also valuable funds which will help improve the lives of people across Scotland living with the disease.
The collective pink hug from so many iconic buildings across Edinburgh which had lit up pink for the occasion was such a huge boost for our Walkers and Volunteers, as was the unseasonably warm weather!
Keep helping us make a difference by signing up for The MoonWalk Scotland 2024”.

Entries are already open for The MoonWalk Scotland on Saturday 7th September 2024. Sign up now at www.walkthewalk.org

Photo captions (credit Walk the Walk)

• Image 3: L-R Barbara-Ann Mackay, Sarah-Jane Shellard and Audrey Anderson (all from Arbroath). Barbara-Ann, her sister Sarah-Jane and aunt Audrey Anderson were all diagnosed with breast cancer during an eight-month period in 2018. They supported each other during treatment – they all had had double mastectomies and chemotherapy
• Image 5: Edinburgh Castle lit up pink in support of the walkers and volunteers taking part in The MoonWalk Scotland
• Image 6: Walk the Walk’s Founder and Chief Executive Nina Barough, wearing a special bra designed by Tunnock’s
• Image 10: Fiona Watson (2nd from left) with her team at The MoonWalk Scotland
• Image 11: Rachel Jones (centre) with her team at The MoonWalk Scotland
• Image 12: Rachel Jones (fourth from left) at the finish line of The MoonWalk Scotland
• All other images: The MoonWalk Scotland 2023

For more information, contact:

• Jen Broh at Walk the Walk  07974 107999 [email protected]
• Lisa Tyrrell at Walk the Walk  07554 337566 [email protected]

Walk the Walk

• Breast cancer charity, Walk the Walk, is the organiser of The MoonWalk Scotland, The MoonWalk London and The MoonWalk Iceland, where women and men walk marathons at Midnight wearing brightly decorated bras or colourful bra-t-shirts
• Walk the Walk specialises in promoting the benefits of Walking as an important part of cancer prevention, as well as for overall mental health and physical wellbeing