My Breakthrough
When Bollywood met Rock ‘n’ Roll
Walkers were welcomed to the vast ‘Pink Palace’ (officially the biggest pink tent in the world) with eclectic entertainment ranging from Bollywood drumming to rock ‘n’ roll hits and spirits were high as everyone prepared for the huge task ahead. Tonnes of organic pasta, rice and flapjacks were handed out to fuel the walkers, and masseuses relieved any last minute tensions.
At 11pm, the MoonWalkers braved the cold of the night and set off from Hyde Park sporting bras decorated in keeping with the ‘East meets West’ theme to power walk 26.2 miles along the route of the London marathon. Passing landmarks including the London Eye and Tower Bridge on their way, they returned triumphant as the rest of London was just waking up to the day.
People from all walks of life unite against breast cancer in this spectacular event, from women who have survived breast cancer, their friends and families, to celebrities and political figures. Eight MPs who work closely with us to bring about important changes in Government policy also took part this year.
Every year, a team of Breakthrough scientists, staff and trustees take up the challenge to demonstrate their support for Walk the Walk and keep fit in the process! Professor Alan Ashworth completed his eighth MoonWalk this year, showing a team of 20 scientists from our Research Centre in London how it’s done. This is testament to the amazing partnership that we have built over the years with Walk the Walk.
"Taking part in the MoonWalk, I feel part of something big. If our supporters can raise all this money for breast cancer causes, then we scientists can certainly walk 26.2 miles. I do it because I feel it's right."
Professor Alan Ashworth, Director of the Breakthrough Research Centre
Thanks to the commitment of thousands of walkers and the extraordinary vision of one woman, Nina Barough, Walk the Walk, the charity behind the MoonWalk, has raised an incredible £40m since 1996. Walk the Walk aims to grant 80% of its fundraising to breast cancer causes. In 2007 alone, Breakthrough received nearly £2.5m from Walk the Walk to help fund the research of our scientists.
The grants that we receive enable us to work together to make great strides in breast cancer research. For example, scientists in the Breakthrough Nina Barough Breast Cancer Pathology Laboratory have identified some potential drug targets that they hope could be used to create targeted therapies for specific types of breast cancers that are currently difficult to treat. Another of Walk the Walk’s aims is to improve the quality of life of people affected by breast cancer and together we are investigating the use of complementary therapies. Our recently launched ACU.FATIGUE project is looking at the effectiveness of acupuncture in relieving certain side effects of breast cancer treatment.
We would like to say many congratulations and a huge thank you to each of the 15,000 people who participated in The Playtex MoonWalk in London this year (an honourable tribute to the more than 12,000 women and men who die of breast cancer in the UK each year). Thanks also to the army of 1,600 volunteers who helped make the night run like clockwork, and of course to Nina Barough and Walk the Walk for making the event such a huge success every year.
And best of luck to all those who will pound the streets at other Walk the Walk events this year. This is an exciting time for Walk the Walk and they are establishing new events across the world. If you would like to find out more, please visit www.walkthewalk.org.
Images courtesy of onEdition.
