Bra-vo for 12,000 on MoonWalk

Published on Sunday 15 June 2008 22:09

IT COULD have been mistaken for a record-breaking attempt to stage the world's biggest lingerie show.

But the thousands of women, and a substantial number of men, dressed in bras pounding the streets of Edinburgh had a more important aim in mind – raising millions of pounds for breast cancer.

The 2008 Edinburgh MoonWalk saw more than 12,000 walking through the night on either a 26.2-mile marathon or a 13.1-mile "half moon" walk.

Many of those taking part in the event – now in its third year – were survivors of breast cancer or had family or friends affected by the disease. The organisers said they hoped to raise 3 million for breast cancer charities.

Landmarks across the city, including Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Yacht Britannia and The Scotsman's offices on Holyrood Road, were lit up pink in support of the charity walkers. Singer Michelle McManus, who won the Pop Idol series in 2003, was among those taking part, wearing a bright pink wig.

A spokeswoman for Walk the Walk – the grant-making charity behind the MoonWalk – said it had been a great success. "We're really happy with how it all went," she said. "The weather was ideal for a MoonWalk and the atmosphere was amazing. To get 12,000 people taking part was a great turn out and we were really happy to have about 1,000 men taking part in their bras as well."

Participants in the Edinburgh MoonWalk have raised more than 4.5 million since the first event in 2006.

Nina Barough, chief executive and founder of Walk the Walk, said: "The beauty of the city by night conjures up a very special atmosphere for the MoonWalk and helps to attract people far and beyond to join us."

IN NUMBERS

12,000

Number of people taking part in the 2008 Edinburgh MoonWalk.

1,000

Number of men taking part.

8,000

Number of walkers who took part in the first Edinburgh MoonWalk in 2006.

13

Number of women who wore decorated bras in the 1996 New York Marathon, the birth of the Walk the Walk charity.

3 million

Amount organisers hope to raise this year in Edinburgh.

40 million

Amount raised by Walk the Walk events across the UK.

44,000

Number of women diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK.

300

Number of men diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

20%

Fall in breast cancer death rate in the last decade.