OVER the last couple of decades, nearly half a million women and men have taken to the streets in colourful decorated bras.
In their bright underwear, they have walked in the dark to raise awareness and money for research, prevention and to support those living with cancer.
Entries are now open for the 25th year of the night-time fundraising event in Summer, 2023.
And this year, you don’t have to walk in the dark.
Live MoonWalks will take place in London on Saturday, May 20 at Clapham Common, in Iceland on Tuesday, June 13, and in Edinburgh on Saturday, September 9.
But walkers can also take part virtually as well.
They can pick any theme from previous years to decorate their bra, adding a touch of silver to celebrate 25 years of charity strolling.
Previous themes included superheroes, swing your tartan, jungle safari, roaring twenties, all things iceland, and disco inferno.
Participants can choose between half and full marathons, and the virtual option allows them to tackle the MoonWalk in their local area.
Those looking to experience both the London and Scotland walks can receive a special 10% discount on entry.
And for the ultimate challenge, ramblers can take the 3 Land Challenge, completing all three MoonWalks.
Wokingham resident, and MoonWalk founder Nina Barough CBE explains:”We’re very grateful to everyone who takes part in these walks.
“MoonWalking has grown in a way that I never imagined in my wildest dreams when I started the first event.
“It has enabled us to inject some fun into something very serious, and helped us to talk about breast cancer openly, without it being considered somehow risky or offensive.
“The live walks are really magical, and impossible to adequately describe to anyone unless you’ve actually come along and experienced one.
“But not everyone can make it to London, or Scotland, or indeed Iceland.
“So it’s really lovely to be able to offer people a virtual option to take part.”
It was something that became necessary during Covid, but has been continued by the group as a valuable means of including those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to join in.
“We realise that there are lots of things that get in the way,” continues Nina.
“It costs money to come to London, or people might be on holiday, perhaps they’ve just had a baby, or maybe they’re just not ready to take part in such a big event,” says Nina.
“Joining us virtually is convenient for lots of people.
“You get the t-shirt and the cap, (we prefer solo walkers not to be walking by themselves in a bra), and all the information, training plans and support.
“You choose your start time, and off you go.
“Our virtual walkers take part during the day, and we regard them as our trailblazers, preparing the way for the night time participants.”
Nina’s team recommends virtual walkers use the Strava app during the event.
It tracks their mileage and links them to the MoonWalk fundraising page so that supporters can celebrate their progress.
People of any age can walk anywhere, even in their own house or garden.
“It could be that Mum is doing the walk live, but the rest of the family joins in at home,” adds Nina.
“We are keen to support all our virtual participants, and we give them a call during their walk, just to check in with them and make sure that they are ok.”
Nina created the original night-time walk, The MoonWalk London, in 1998.
MoonWalks in Scotland and Iceland followed, with all three organised by Nina’s cancer charity Walk the Walk.
Money raised helps charities and organisations across the UK in their united aims to conquer cancer and support those living with the condition.
“It’s an event where ordinary women and men do something special.
“It’s a massive celebration of people coming together.
“Research tells us that walking can help to prevent disease, so I want to get everyone doing it.
“You know it’s good for you, you know you need to, so get on and sign up,” she laughs.
For more information or to register for MoonWalk 2023, visit: www.walkthewalk.org
