Wick duo complete Edinburgh Moonwalk

A WICK-based fitness instructor and a local hairdresser recently walked the walk after talking the talk -- going through the streets of Edinburgh in their bras to raise money for breast cancer.

Mother-of-three Fiona Harper has run fitness classes in Thurso and Wick for the past 17 years and was inspired by her mother to take part in the Edinburgh MoonWalk alongside thousands of other women.

Fiona’s mother, Marion Mackay, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996.

Her mother’s disease was detected early and she recovered so well, she went on to do the New York, Beijing and London marathons with her husband, George.

Marion then did the first Edinburgh MoonWalk in 2006.

This year it was the turn of Marion’s daughter, former triathlete and competitive runner and swimmer Fiona (37) and her friend Wendy Sutherland, owner of Wendy’s Hairdressers in Breadalbane Crescent to take part in the night-time 26.2-mile charity walk round the city with thousands of other women.

"We had a great night," Fiona told the

Caithness Courier.

"It was very well organised and out of all the events I have done in the past this is one I would definitely do again."

The determined duo donned brightly decorated bras at midnight on June 9 and between them raised over £2100 to help combat breast cancer.

The money will go towards specialist breast cancer centres such as the Breast Cancer Institute in Edinburgh; Breast Tissue Banks including the centre in Dundee; and Maggie’s Care Centres in Glasgow and Falkirk.

Funds also pay for specialist equipment such as scalp coolers, which help to reduce hair loss during chemotherapy, which have been delivered to various hospitals.

With the support of more than 60,000 walkers over the last six years, the Moonwalk has raised in excess of £14 million.

On the night various landmarks around the capital were lit up in pink to support the walkers.

Fiona said they were "spectacular".

This year’s theme for the walk was "Midnight at the Oasis" but unfortunately it was more like the monsoon season.

However the good-natured spirit of the evening was not washed away.

"The heavy rain did dampen our spirits at the beginning of the walk but the support from the Edinburgh folk was amazing and inspired us to keep going until the end," said Fiona. "We both completed the walk in less than six-and-a-half hours, and managed to travel home to see the Olympic torch being lit in John O’Groats."

Hairdresser Wendy (43) suggested taking part in the event as she has also had cancer in her family.

After buying a black Labrador puppy last year, Brodie, she had been doing more and more walking and decided it was time to put the training to good use for a worthy cause and roped her trainer Fiona into the adventure.

So far this year the Moonwalk events, which also take part in other cities across the country and further afield, have raised over $4,500,000 for organisers Walk the Walk to put towards breast cancer.

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