Q&A: Nina Barough

Published on Sunday 21 December 2008 20:47

Chief executive and founder of Walk the Walk, a charity that funds breast cancer research every year with events such as MoonWalk Edinburgh, a sponsored walk through the city. It raised a record £2.7 million this year.

This year's Edinburgh MoonWalk was the third year of the event? How has it grown since 2006?

With over 12,000 people taking part this year, MoonWalk Edinburgh has increased in size by 50 per cent in just three years and succeeded in raising millions of pounds. In the short time that we have had a presence in Scotland, we have agreed to fund a much-needed Maggie's Centre in Glasgow and supported a project to completely rebuild a cancer ward at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. We have also provided large numbers of scalp coolers – our own project – throughout the UK, but also in various hospitals from the Borders to the Highlands and Skye.

The 2008 MoonWalk has raised 2.7 million so far. How has that contributed to your fundraising efforts?

This year, Walk the Walk has raised over 9 million, and overall, we have raised more than 45 million for cancer charities.

Where will the money raised in Edinburgh be spent?

Walk the Walk has teamed up with Maggie's, the organisation that offers care and support to anyone affected by cancer, to create a second cancer caring centre in Glasgow at the Gartnavel General Hospital. Significant funds will be granted to Maggie's to help towards the new 2.1 million building.

Walk the Walk also gave a grant of 500,000 to the Breast Cancer Institute of Edinburgh's Western General Hospital to rebuild the breast cancer ward. The first stages have begun, and it is hoped that the new ward will be open during 2009.

What is next for the charity in Scotland?

We have a date for next year's MoonWalk Edinburgh. It will be held on Saturday, 20 June, in Inverleith Park.

How can people find out how to take part?

Walk the Walk's website, www.walkthewalk.org