Eating healthy organic food is an important part of Walk the Walk’s ethos

Did you know that Walk the Walk has had an organic or “clean” food policy, ever since the charity started in 1996? Over the years, we’ve worked with some amazing companies, including our wonderful friends at the organic confectionery company Booja-Booja. They’ve donated a very tasty organic treat as the prize in our latest competition – see details below on how you can win!

Walk the Walk’s Founder Nina Barough explains why what we eat is so important:

“As well as raising awareness for breast cancer, funding research and making grants to frontline cancer charities, Walk the Walk is also a health charity. We support and encourage people to make healthier choices for their everyday lives.

For many years I have been a big advocate of organic foods – our lifeblood is air, water and food, so knowing about what I’m eating has always been incredibly important to me.

When Walk the Walk started back in 1996, research into this area was still at a very early stage. I would have conversations with researchers about the extent to which serious illnesses like cancer might be prevented by our lifestyle choices and what we eat, and whilst they knew at that time it did have an impact, they did not know how much. Many studies and projects since, including some funded by Walk the Walk, have now categorically proven that lifestyle choices, including activity and diet, do have a significant impact on prevention not only against cancer, but all disease.
I have always felt that if Walk the Walk was being sincere in our message to support women’s and men’s health, encouraging healthy eating has to be right at the top of our list. This is the reason why all the food served at our MoonWalks is Organic – from the tasty rice or pasta dishes we offer in the huge pink tent before you set off, to the delicious porridge, burgers, hot drinks and snacks you can buy once you have crossed the Finish Line and return to MoonWalk City.

Most of our food sponsors are also either Organic or “clean”. We have actually turned companies away in the past, who have wanted to invest in Walk the Walk, but we felt that they were not ethically supporting our cause or good health. Not only is growing food organically (i.e without the use of chemicals) so much better for us, it is also much more environmental and sustainable. 

During my own breast cancer treatment, I discovered the wonderful Penny Brohn Centre – a cancer charity that believes in supporting the whole person in learning to live well with cancer. Walk the Walk has granted funds to Penny Brohn since 2000 and has continued to support their ethos ever since. The holistic and integrated support they provide to breast and other cancer patients is very much based on how to support yourself and they are also huge advocates of eating organically. I’m often asked for pictures of when I was ill with my cancer, but I actually never looked or felt ill while I was being treated for breast cancer. However, I did imagine that if I only put good things into my body the cancer could not survive. The consequences, I felt I was blooming, because I was actually eating so well!

A few years later, I was thrilled when HRH The Prince of Wales agreed to become our patron – his support of sustainability, environmental issues and the benefits of organic food are exactly in line with Walk the Walk’s.

Organic food can be more expensive than non-organic and the cost can be prohibitive. If you have to limit what organic foods you do buy, opt for root vegetables for the benefits that organic soil has, and the next best thing is trying to eat lots of fruit, vegetables and pulses. We don’t always get it right, but being aware and following a healthy diet is so important.

As we now know – it is impossible to isolate food from disease and illness. The old saying of ‘You are what you eat’ turns out to be true and why Organic or clean food that supports good health is such an important part of Walk the Walk’s ethos”.

COMPETITION TIME!

Fancy winning a spring-inspired Easter Edition chocolate truffle selection box from our friends at Booja-Booja AND the bestselling Walk the Walk Bumbag?!

Head over to our Facebook or Instagram tomorrow (19th March) and follow the instructions for your chance to win!

Good luck and happy walking!