Laura Boyd dons her bra for the The MoonWalk Edinburgh

STV entertainment presenter Laura Boyd is urging women and men from across Scotland to join her, by signing up for The Scottish MoonWalk in Edinburgh.

On 8th June 2013, Laura will join thousands and thousands of women and men Power Walking  through the streets of the city in brightly decorated bras at Midnight, raising money and awareness to improve the lives of cancer patients throughout Scotland and having fun at the same time.

As part of her journey with her own battle against Leukaemia, Laura has found comfort and advice at Maggie’s Centre, Gartnavel and it has become one of her favourite places. This beautiful Centre was funded by grant- making charity Walk the Walk with money raised at The MoonWalk Edinburgh Scotland. Not only was Walk the Walk Principal Funder, but the charity also granted further funds for the first 3 years running costs. Laura wants to say Thank You to Walk the Walk, by raising more funds and awareness for the charity.

Designer Cassandra Belanger, founder of The Stitchery, a Glasgow sewing studio, has created an amazing bra, fitting with this year’s theme Psychedelic Extravaganza, which Laura will be wearing in true Walk the Walk tradition.

This year’s MoonWalk will be at Leith Links, with walkers choosing from four different Power Walking challenges: New Moon (6.6 mile quarter marathon), Half Moon (13.1 miles), Full Moon (26.2 miles) and Over the Moon (52.4 miles).

The MoonWalk Edinburgh Scotland has raised in excess of £15 million to date, with most of the money staying in the country to help improve the lives of people like Laura, who are being treated for cancer.

Maggie’s Chief Executive Laura Lee said: “The support Maggie’s has received from Walk the Walk and the walkers of The MoonWalk Edinburgh over the years has been nothing short of outstanding.By providing the grant for Maggie’s Gartnavel, Walk the Walk have allowed us to dramatically increase the level of support we can offer to people with cancer, their friends and families, in the Greater Glasgow area and thanks to the grant made for the new Centre in Forth Valley, we are looking forward to offering the same support there in the not too distant future as well. The MoonWalk Edinburgh is such a fabulous event I know it will be another massive success again this year and I am delighted Laura Boyd, as someone who knows Maggie’s well, is taking part this year. I would like to encourage anyone who is a supporter of Maggie’s to think about signing up for an event which is fun, challenging, satisfying and, more than anything, makes such a difference.”

Laura Boyd, Showbiz Correspondent for STV and Maggie’s Gartnavel visitor, said: ‘I am delighted to be able to take part in this year’s MoonWalk Edinburgh. It is something I have always wanted to do because I know it is a fantastic event and because I know the amazing work Walk the Walk do in granting vital funds to cancer charities such as Maggie’s. Having had a cancer diagnosis myself, I have needed the support on offer at Maggie’s Gartnavel, which was built thanks to a grant from Walk the Walk, so I am very aware of how incredibly vital it is that Maggie’s are allowed to continue to offer the support they do and that organisations like Walk the Walk are around to help make that happen.”

Nina Barough CBE, Chief Executive and Founder of Walk the Walk, said:   “I was so proud of Walk the Walk and all our fundraisers, when in October 2011 as the Principal Funder, we celebrated the opening of Maggie’s Gartnavel in Glasgow. Now the centre has been visited by many many people and it is just so wonderful to hear Laura describing what an amazing place Maggies is and how it has helped her find care and support during her journey through cancer.  For Walk the Walk to continue making such a significant difference to the lives of so many cancer patients throughout Scotland, we need women and men to follow Laura’s lead and sign up for The MoonWalk Edinburgh Scotland. Not only will they be raising money and awareness but I can promise everybody an unforgettable fun filled night!”