Roll up! Roll up! The magnificent MoonWalk Circus rolls into town! Wednesday 17 April 2019

L-R Stuart Young, Ellie Wagstaff, Gina Morales, Alice Taylor, Chico Rico, Ian Mycko, Amy Young, Ryan Brown, Jacqueline Morales, Lynne Young

The fun of the circus came to Edinburgh this morning (Wednesday 17 April) as Walkers taking part in this year’s MoonWalk Scotland joined performers from Gandeys Circus to encourage others to join this year’s walking challenge.

Wearing Walk the Walk’s famous ‘bra t-shirts’, everyone got into the circus spirit with Chico the Clown, a Fire Breather, a Contortionist and Rolling Globe Performers from Gandeys to raise awareness of The MoonWalk. This year’s circus-themed MoonWalk Scotland is on Saturday 8 June.

Organised by grant-making breast cancer charity, Walk the Walk, The MoonWalk Scotland will see thousands of women, men and young people walking a quarter, half, full or double Marathon through the streets of Edinburgh at Midnight to raise money and awareness to help fight the disease.

Amy Young (12) from Edinburgh is taking on the 6.55 mile New Moon at The MoonWalk Scotland 2019, with her Mum, Dad, sister and a family friend. Amy said: “It was really fun to do the photoshoot at the Big Top, especially meeting all the performers. I hope it helps to make lots of people interested in doing The MoonWalk, because it is such a good thing to do. I can't wait to help raise money and awareness for breast cancer.”

MoonWalker Sheona Wilson, from Grangemouth, also joined in the fun with Gandeys. She said: “I just LOVE doing The MoonWalk and raising money for Walk the Walk.  Every year when the email comes in I always sign up - maybe I’m just addicted to walking around Edinburgh in my bra at night. It’s also wonderful meeting all the other Moonwalkers and having a good old blether! The volunteers are just awesome along the route, the scenery along the coast is amazing especially if you catch the sun rising over the Forth.” 

Jacqueline Morales, Aerialist Performer at Gandeys Circus said: “It’s been fantastic to support Walk the Walk and give people a taster of what to expect from the Gandeys show! We really hope the fun and excitement from today encourages more people to sign-up for this year’s circus-themed MoonWalk, especially ahead of World Circus Day.

“I was delighted to be asked to decorate some bras for Walk the Walk, which is an amazing and important charity that does so much to help people living with cancer in Scotland. My sister Gina and I proudly wore our circus-themed bras which are inspired not just by the big top itself, but the influential people who perform within it. Of course, the bras have been finished off with some beautiful rhinestones which is an iconic feature in traditional circus costume.”

Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk, Nina Barough CBE said: A huge thank you to Gandeys Circus for such a fun-filled experience today and getting everybody in the mood to MoonWalk in June.  I hope it inspires more women, men and children to sign up and put one foot in front of the other and join our MoonWalk circus. With challenges from just 6.55 to 26.2 miles, there really is something for every age and ability. Come on folks, roll up! roll up! and help us raise money and awareness to support people living with cancer in Scotland.”

More than 86,000 Walkers have taken part in The MoonWalk Scotland since the event started in 1996, and so far, more than £21.3 million has been raised to improve the lives of those living with cancer in the country. 

Setting off from Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, Walkers can take on one of four challenges at The MoonWalk Scotland; The New Moon (6.55 miles, open to people aged 10 and over), Half Moon (13.1 miles), Full Moon (26.2 miles) or Over The Moon (52.4 miles).

The MoonWalk Scotland is on Saturday 8 June. Sign up now at walkthewalk.org

FREE TO USE IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD HERE

For more information, photographs and quotes, contact:

• Sally Orr at Walk the Walk: 07796 080 675                  [email protected]
• Claire Duncan at Walk the Walk: 01483 741 430      [email protected]
• Jen Broh at Walk the Walk: 01483 741 430                 [email protected]

Notes to Editors:

Interviews are still available with the Walkers and performers involved in today’s event:

• Ellie Wagstaff from Edinburgh. This year marks ten years since Ellie’s mum had the all-clear from breast cancer and Ellie is taking on a double-marathon distance, Over the Moon Ultra to mark this milestone.
• Ian Mycko from Edinburgh. Ian has volunteered at every single MoonWalk Scotland since the event started in 2006 and is preparing for his 14^th year!
• Sheona Wilson from Grangemouth. Sheona has also been involved in every MoonWalk Scotland. She volunteered in 2006 and has walked every year since.
• Lynne Young, Stuart Young, Laura Young (15), Amy Young (12), Katie Kistruck (15) from Edinburgh. Lynne, Stuart and their daughters, plus family friend Katie are taking on the 6.55 mile New Moon! Lynne has done the Full Moon twice before.
• Alice Taylor (12), from Edinburgh. Alice is taking on the 6.55 New Moon.
• Acts from Gandeys Circus including Rolling Globe Performers, a Fire Breather, a Contortionist and Chico the Clown.

Notes to Editors:

The MoonWalk Scotland 2019

• Saturday 8th June 2019, Holyrood Park Edinburgh
• Entries for three walking challenges are open: New Moon (6.55 miles), Half Moon (13.1 miles), and Full Moon (26.2 miles). Entries for Over The Moon (52.4 miles) are now closed.
• This year’s theme is ‘Circus’.
• The New Moon costs £32.50 for adults and £18 for Young Walkers aged 10-12
• The cost of entering the Half Moon and Full Moon is £49.50 – minimum age 13
• Walkers taking part in the New Moon, Half Moon or Full Moon are asked to raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship, with Young Walkers asked to simply raise as much as they can.
• 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 Lanarkshire 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.

Walk the Walk

• 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 £129 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.
• To date grants have been made to charities and organisations throughout the UK including Breast Cancer Now, The Breast Cancer Haven, Penny Brohn UK and hundreds of NHS Hospitals and Trusts for which we supply Scalp Cooling Systems.
• The charity also has a community grant fund which each year grants to smaller organisations. Helen Rollason Cancer Charity, Tenovus Cancer Care, The Christie, Cancer Kin, FACT and others, all receive funds which enable them to continue their work.
• ‘The MoonWalk’ is the flagship event of the charity currently held in Scotland, London and Iceland.