20 years of MoonWalking – Walking for Fitness!

Grant-making breast cancer charity Walk the Walk is celebrating 20 years of the iconic MoonWalk London, as new research carried out by YouGov shows that 25% of people think they are not fit enough to take part in a walking challenge.

Half a million* women, men and young adults have now taken part in The MoonWalk London and other walking events organised by Walk the Walk – training and walking to improve their fitness. Walkers of all ages wearing the charity’s unique brightly decorated bras are still raising awareness for breast cancer as well as an incredible £113 million* to date, helping fund research into breast cancer and to improve the lives of those with cancer now.

Walk the Walk Founder and Chief Executive Nina Barough CBE believes the role the charity plays in prevention is crystal clear. Statistics show that exercise and healthy eating are fundamental in helping to prevent many diseases, including breast cancer*.

As The MoonWalk London turns 20, Nina knows that Walk the Walk still has a responsibility for encouraging new walkers to take control of their own well-being – especially the 1 in 5 (20%) who say they never walk for exercise and with only 45% owning a pair of trainers/exercise shoes.

Nina wants to inspire the nearly two fifths (38%) who say they would never take part in a walking challenge to get walking, particularly those who lack the confidence, motivation or energy to get fitter.

Nina is the UK’s leading Power Walking Expert and the author of Walking for Fitness, published by Dorling Kindersley and updated in January 2017, with new training plans and additional sections on technical devices, which can help those walking for exercise.

Entries for The MoonWalk London 2017 on Saturday 13^th May are open at www.walkthewalk.org

*   Source: Walk the Walk ** The World Cancer Research Fund says 38% of breast cancers could be prevented through a combination of improved diet, physical activity and keeping a controlled body weight. 12% of breast cancers could be prevented by just being physically active.

ENDS

For more information and case studies, contact:

• Sally Orr at Walk the Walk on 07796 080675 [email protected]
• Jennifer McAllister at Walk the Walk on 01483 741430

Survey Other results include:-

• 38% of men and 52% of women own a pair of exercise shoes or trainers
• 13% of those surveyed find it difficult to walk for more than 10 minutes at a time
• Almost a quarter (24%) of those aged 55 and over find it difficult to walk for more than 10 minutes at a time
• All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2085 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 3^rd – 6^th February 2017. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+)  

Walk the Walk

• Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive, set up and leads the grant-making breast cancer charity Walk the Walk
• Walk the Walk is passionate about encouraging women and men to become fitter and healthier and take control of their own wellbeing
• In 1996, Nina woke up with the idea of Power Walking the New York City Marathon in a bra to raise money for breast cancer
• Nina was diagnosed with breast cancer herself shortly afterwards, which was the starting point for Walk the Walk and the first MoonWalk London in 1998
• Walk the Walk has now raised over £113 million. Funds are granted for breast cancer research and to help improve the lives of people with cancer now

Walk The Walk organises the following events:- 

• The MoonWalk London (13^th May 2017), including the Half Moon (13.1 plus 2 miles) and Full Moon (26.2 miles).
• The MoonWalk Scotland (10th June 2017), including the New Moon (6.55 miles), Half Moon (13.1 miles), Full Moon (26.2 miles) and Over The Moon (52.4 miles)
• The MoonWalk Iceland (17th June 2017), The Inca Trail Peru, and The Arctic Marathon – a 26.2 mile backcountry skiing challenge in the far north of Lapland 
• For more information, and to sign up for all Walk the Walk’s challenges, as a Walker or a Volunteer, go to www.walkthewalk.org