Striding in Royal company, Prince Charles holds a leek presented by Ros Evans, second from left, with Eunice Salmon, left and Moonwalk organiser Nina Baru

Two women from Swindon were amongst fifty who were invited to meet Prince Charles at his country residence Highgrove House wearing their bras on Monday 3 September.

Eunice Salmon from Nine Elms and Ros Evans from Old Town who are involved with the Swindon branch of Breakthrough Cancer and have done the Moonwalk marathon through Londo were exclusively pictured in the September Link getting ready to strip off at Westonbirt Arboretum before striding the two miles to Highgrove.

Wearing bras decorated with stuffed organic vegetables, Eunice and Ros broke out in song with the others as they walked up the driveway at Highgrove; Prince Charles commented later that from a distance he thought a party of Buddist monks was about to arrive.

"It was a surreal day," said Eunice, who had flown back from a family holiday in Spain in the early hours of 3 September so as not to miss the day. "Highgrove and its garden are just incredible and it was such a privilege to be asked to attend the reception.

"We were shown to the Orchard Room which opens out into a large paved space. Before meeting us in small groups, still wearing our bras, the Prince said we had made his day for dressing as we did and thanked the thousands of women who has done the Moonwalk over the last few years. Over £1 million was raised in May and he received two cheques on behalf of Breakthrough Breast Cancer and the Bristol Cancer Help Centre."

Prince Charles is President of the first and patron of the second. Eunice said she was almost speechless when he met the women in small groups. "I could not believe I was there. It was quite bizarre, Prince Charles in a crisp suit, us in trainers and bras decorated with assorted fruit and vegetables. Ros gave him one of her stuffed leeks which were made by a Swindon women who is quite ill with breast cancer. He carried it round all the groups before asking 'who does this belong to?'

"In the informal setting the Prince is so friendly, warm and natural, totally unlike he is portrayed in the media."

After the Prince had departed, the women enjoyed a delicious lunch and to their surpise were invited to look around the garden. "We didn't expect a guided tour," said Eunice. "It's just like going into a secret garden. It's relatively small for a statelyhome, but every inch seems to be perfect, we gasped at every turn. There are such strong spiritual influences and the new Islamic garden is wonderful.

"It was striking how informal Highgrove is. Even being close to the main road, many of the doors and windows were wide open and there was no obvious security.

"It's hard to believe that it happened at all."


Moonwalk 2002
Swindon has contributed the largest group to the Moonwalk in the last two years. In May two hundred women and a few blokes from Swindon raised about £50,000 in sponsorship on the Moonwalk. In 2000, one hundred and five raised £30,000. For safety reasons organisers will be restricting entry numbers next May, so it will be important to apply early.


Breakthrough Breakfasts
Unlike the last two years, when Eunice has coordinated breakfast fundraising events during breast cancer awareness month, she is appealing for people to organise their own smaller breakfasts in their home, school or workplace during October. Eunice has organiser packs available.


Peruvian Andes stroll
Eunice is taking part in a sponsored hike along the Inca trail in Peru for Breakthrough next June and has a big sponsorship target to meet. Call her if you can help. For details on the above, call Eunice on 871606.