A SINGING bra signed by The Proclaimers helped send thousands of walkers on their way last night at the MoonWalk in Edinburgh.
The Proclaimers bra signed by Craig and Charlie Reid and designed by cartoonist Frank Boyle and Anna Battista was just one of the garments created for this year’s event.
The brothers said they had never imagined in their “wildest dreams” that their hit song I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) would be played through a bra to raise awareness of breast cancer.
“This bra is incredible and really depicts ourselves, Scotland and Walk the Walk,” they said.
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The bra is covered with a map of Edinburgh and integrates a system that plays the song.
The other designer bras included a Val McDermid bra signed by the famous crime author and based on her most recent book, Broken Ground.
Made by former Edinburgh College of Art student Kathryn Weaving, it is designed to convey ideas of buried treasure and hidden horrors.
“I’m supporting Walk the Walk because there’s not a person among us who hasn’t known somebody who’s been affected by breast cancer,” said McDermid.
“Breast cancer is definitely one of those causes where early diagnosis can save lives and people have to be encouraged to take up the opportunities there are like mammograms for breast screenings. It really is important to check yourselves as well, to make sure you know what your body feels like so you can see any changes.”
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The walk was launched last night by event founder Nina Barough wearing a circus-themed bra created by the visual team at Jenners, Edinburgh’s flagship Princes Street store.
Around 2000 people wearing bras based on this year’s circus theme walked a quarter, half, full or double marathon through the night to raise money and awareness to help fight breast cancer.
More than 86,000 walkers have taken part in The MoonWalk Scotland since the event started in 2006 and so far almost £21.5 million has been raised to improve the lives of those living with cancer in the country.
Walk the Walk is the principal funder of the Maggie’s Centre at the Gartnavel in Glasgow and Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert.
Maggie’s Centres offer support to people diagnosed with all types of cancer, as well as providing emotional support for their families.
A grant was also made towards the Lanarkshire Centre in the grounds of Monklands Hospital in Airdrie and Walk the Walk has funded the renovation of Ward 6, a new theatre and renovation of the Mammography Unit at the Breast Cancer Institute at Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital.
In addition, Walk the Walk is committed to providing funding to hospitals across Scotland and the UK to purchase scalp cooling systems, special machines which are helping many people undergoing chemotherapy to retain their hair.
Walk the Walk has funded a total of 57 Scalp Coolers in 26 Scottish hospitals.
The MoonWalk Scotland is organised by grant-making breast cancer charity, Walk the Walk. To find out more, or to sign up for one of their challenges visit walkthewalk.org
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