Stepping up to the pink challenge

Published on Saturday 13 March 2010 19:32

BRAS to the fore! Edinburgh will turn pink once again in 13 weeks' time when thousands of walkers crowd into the capital for the annual MoonWalk for breast cancer charities.

The brightly costumed walkers – both women and men – will set off from the Inverleith Park starting line for the early-morning circuit of either the 13-mile Half Moon or the 26-mile Full Moon.

Millions of pounds have been raised in recent years by the MoonWalk to improve the quality of life with equipment and facilities for cancer patients in Scotland.

It has become the most popular charity fundraiser in the capital's calendar with its combination of physical effort and a carnival-style atmosphere.

Walkers of all ages and backgrounds take part, each with their own personal reason for undertaking the challenge and the event organisers are now urging those who want to take part to register at www.walkthewalk.org

Public and private sector buildings along the route will be lit up with pink lighting, or with pink window displays, to give the walkers encouragement through the night.

Each year in the UK, more than 12,000 women die from breast cancer, but over the past decade the chances of survival have improved by 20 per cent, largely due to increased awareness, early detection and treatment.

Over the past four years more than 30,000 women and men have put on their brightly decorated bras to take part in MoonWalk Edinburgh and raise a colossal 8.6m.

The charity has helped with money to build a second Maggie's Centre in Glasgow and enabled the Breast Cancer Institute at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh to rebuild its breast cancer ward.

On 19 June, thousands more walkers will follow in their footsteps to hopefully raise millions more. Here, some of those walkers tell Scotland of Sunday, which is proud to be the event's media sponsor, about what inspired them to take part.

'When my chemotherapy's over I'll be able to join in'

JACQUELINE'S STORY

Jacqueline Shaw will have more than most to overcome when she takes her place in this year's MoonWalk for the first time.

It will be less than a year since she lost her father to lung cancer and was then herself diagnosed with breast cancer in the space of a few weeks.

The 52-year-old auditor, from Fife, admits she put off going to see her doctor about a lump in her breast last spring while she and her family paid daily visits to her father in hospital.

Jacqueline, who lives with husband Trevor in Glenrothes, said: "I actually tried to take part in the MoonWalk last year, before I was diagnosed myself, because I thought it was such a good cause. But it was fully booked.

"I had a gut feeling I had breast cancer when my dad was in hospital, but felt I could not cope with both situations at the time. It would just have been too much.

"I only went (to the doctor] after my dad passed away in the middle of July, and in August I was diagnosed myself. I was absolutely traumatised and I didn't know if I was still grieving or if it was because of my own illness.

"However, I felt very strongly that I wanted to do the MoonWalk because of the money it raises."

Jacqueline is about to start her last course of chemotherapy at the end of this month and then will have four weeks of radiation therapy. "But I'm still very excited about the MoonWalk" she said. "I can't wait for it."

A mother-of-three, she will be taking part in the 13-mile "Half Moon" event, along with five supporters, including her daughter Lindsey and sister Gail.

She added: "It's a hugely important event as it makes people aware of the need to raise money for new cancer research.

"It's also very important as it helps all kinds of different women realise that there are other people out there in the same situation as them.

"I'm trying to walk as much as I can at the moment and once my treatment is finished I'll be trying to train as much as possible."

'There's no better way to remember my mother'

CLAIRE'S STORY

CLAIRE Hilson is not only taking part in the MoonWalk to raise money for breast cancer research. She will also be marking the first anniversary of her mother's death.

The mother of four will be walking for her mother Helen, who sadly passed away only three days before the MoonWalk last year.

Claire, 31, had been planning to take part in the walk in 2009 but was devastated to discover her mother only had a week to live.

She said: "In the week she was told she was terminal she never got moved into a hospital and died at home – we looked after her until the very last moment.

"I don't think there is a better way to remember my mother than to raise more money for the charity."

Helen Hilson was just 51 when she lost her battle against breast cancer last year.

But her daughter says she will always remember her mum as the strongest person she has ever known.

She said: "I just keep thinking to myself that if my mother can fight cancer then I can do anything.

"My mum was the strongest person I have ever known – even before she got cancer she was a force to be reckoned with."

Helen was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 and after undergoing a mastectomy and receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy she went into remission.

But, in 2006, the cancer returned and doctors discovered the disease had spread into her vital organs, including her lungs, pancreas and liver.

Claire said: "We always knew she had to fight it as it would never be cured. My mum was so positive and there was never a moment when she was down – she was so motivating and would not let it beat her."

Claire's decision to complete the MoonWalk has become very personal and joining her on the day will be her stepfather Scott, cousin Gillian and friend Alec.

'Everyone has got a story to tell'

LYNNE'S STORY

THIS year's MoonWalk will mark Lynne Lineen's fifth year of taking part and this year her favourite bra will be making another special appearance.

Complete with black tassels and red mini pompoms, it was designed by her friend's daughter.

Lynne, a chartered accountant, always rallies together a group of walkers to tackle the event together.

She said: "I don't mind who I do it with to be honest – everyone can do it and I think it's such a fantastic event.

"My motivation behind my first MoonWalk was an article I read by Nina Barough – the founder and chief executive of charity Walk the Walk.

"I was really inspired and I had been looking for a new challenge after completing the New York Marathon.

"One of my friends had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer so that was also an important reason behind me taking part.

"That particular friend ran with me in the third year and I have done it with different people every year."

Every year brings a new experience for the mother of two but her most memorable walk was the first one.

"It was quite an emotional experience. You're meeting people and everyone has got a story to tell."