I feel that I can make a difference by doing moonwalk

Published on Friday 18 June 2010 10:10

Five women who replied to our Active Nation appeal tell why they will be striding through the night tomorrow

LAST month the Evening News helped find a five-woman team to take part in tomorrow's charity MoonWalk through the city, representing Active Nation, a Scottish Government initiative.

Organised by the breast cancer charity Walk the Walk, the high-profile event will see more than 10,000 women and men in lavishly decorated bras pound the Capital's streets for either a 13 or 26-mile walk overnight, starting and finishing in Inverleith Park.

Participants have many reasons to take part, but most do so to raise awareness and money for more research into breast cancer – along with all other forms of the devastating disease.

Here we speak to the women who responded to our appeal and were selected to become the Active Nation MoonWalk team.

Cathie Fleming, 50, Canongate

LOSING your best friend to cancer would hit anyone hard – never mind also watching both your parents die of the disease.

But for Cathie Fleming that nightmare was real, with cancer haunting her life for years.

"I feel that by doing the MoonWalk I can make a bit of a difference. Imagine if I just couldn't be bothered to do that? What would that say about me? Cancer is not specific – it doesn't care who it hits and therefore anyone could be next."

Cathie, a team manager with Blackhorse Finance, said goodbye to her best friend who died of cervical cancer when she was just 29, leaving behind a husband and two young children.

Cathie's mother also lost her life to ovarian cancer aged just 49 and her father later lost his battle with cancer in his sixties.

Cathie hopes to do her bit to boost research into the disease and, hopefully, save lives.

"There will be a lot of sadness on Saturday night, hearing why people have chosen to take part," says Cathie, who has also done the Cancer Research Race for Life before. "But what is so good about it is that everyone is there for the same reason – we need more money for more research into cancer."

Heather Elshout, 47, Mayfield

DIAGNOSED with depression, unable to hold down a job, Heather Elshout was at home feeling low, knowing she needed something to motivate her to turn her life around.

"I saw the advert for the MoonWalk in the Evening News and I knew straight away I wanted to do it," she says.

"It's changed everything. Before, I was sitting in the house and sometimes I couldn't even find the energy to do the housework. But now I feel focused and healthy – I am a different person."

Long walks form part of Heather's daily routine now, taking to the streets alone, or often with her husband John for up to ten miles at a time to ensure she is up for tomorrow's challenge.

She has enlisted the support of her daughter Natalie Wilson, 23, a student at Edinburgh College of Art, to help decorate her bra for the event.

"There is a mardi gras theme at the event, so she's focusing on that," Heather says. "I can't believe I am doing this – especially when I think of what my life was like a few months ago."

Thanks to the MoonWalk, Heather is hoping to be able to return to work and show people how important it is to live an active life – she knows only too well how ill-health can stop you in your tracks.

Sandra Millar, 63, Barnton

WHEN Sandra Millar takes to the streets of Edinburgh in a brightly coloured bra laden with jewels and shells, she'll be thinking of her late husband Gordon.

Two years ago her life changed forever when the otherwise healthy 61-year-old died of oesophageal cancer, devastating Sandra and her family.

"Gordon would be very happy about me doing this," she says. "He was all for raising awareness about keeping fit."

Sandra's daughter and granddaughter took part in last week's Race for Life in memory of Gordon and tomorrow will be her turn to reflect on how cancer impacts on families.

"The MoonWalk is also a great way of getting fit and I wanted to show my grandchildren that I could do this," she says.

Since Sandra replied to the MoonWalk advert in the Evening News, she has been pushing her activity levels to the maximum, with long walks from Cramond to South Queensferry three times a week.

"I just get my iPod on and get out there," she laughs. "And I feel fantastic as it clears my mind and I feel refreshed once I get back home. I have never done the MoonWalk before, though, and I was so happy to be chosen."

Caroline Wolfe Murray, 28, Newington

"I HAVE a schoolfriend who lost her mum to breast cancer. I always think of what she went through," explains Caroline.

But the reality of what breast cancer – or indeed any form of the disease – can do to a person and their loved ones has hit home even more since Caroline gave birth to her daughter Lily six months ago.

"It's all just striking more of a chord now I am a mum," she says. "Anyone can be affected and I want to help."

Caroline is hoping to raise at least 200 for charity through the MoonWalk – as well as losing some of her baby weight and getting back into shape.

"Although I was always active before I was pregnant, I was never super-fit," she says. "So I wanted to do this to push myself. The training has been good and I am able to take Lily with me, pushing her in her pram into town or to playgroups."

Lesley Spence, 27, Canonmills

"I AM one of those people who always leaves the MoonWalk until it's too late. So this year when I saw the appeal on the Evening News website I went for it," says Lesley, a trainee nurse.

That was four weeks ago, and since then Lesley has focused all her attentions on getting fit enough for the 13-mile walk – with a little help from a four-legged companion.

Lesley has been looking after Tony, a friend's Collie, for the past week, meaning her exercise regime has been stepped up a gear owing to his demands.

"I would recommend anyone who wants to get fit should get a dog," she laughs "I have done so much in the past week. Sometimes if you don't have the motivation to go for a walk, you know you have to for them. I owe everything to Tony!"

She is doing the MoonWalk to help raise awareness of breast cancer as well as trying to motivate others to get healthy through exercise.

WHAT IS ACTIVE NATION?

ACTIVE Nation is a Scottish Government initiative to get people to increase their fitness in the run-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Organisers are calling on all Scots to set a "personal activity goal", however large or small, to encourage them to live a more active lifestyle.

By taking part in the 13-mile MoonWalk, these five Edinburgh women are achieving their own goals and following the campaign's message of "get active, have fun and feel good".

Visit ouractivenation.co.uk for more information on how you could do the same.