Moonwalk organiser congratulates Swindon women

Nina, front left, and Eunice and those who attended the Twin Peaks meeting

Women and men planning to don bras and walk a marathon around London in May should get their applications in as early as possible.

That was the message from Nina Baru, the organiser of the Walk the Walk Moonwalk in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer and the Bristol Cancer Help Centre. There are 15,000 places available and nearly half are already taken. Nina met 80 women on 18 November to talk about the Walk the Walk movement and to congratulate the town for its contribution to the charity. "The Swindon Twin Peaks team must be the largest organised group from any town and they have provided great support to Walk the Walk," said Nina. "It's fantastic to meet some of the walkers again and also newcomers planning to walk next year."

In the last four years Swindon Twin Peaks has raised £200,000. The next meeting is planned for Wednesday 8 January, 7.30pm at the Civic Offices, Euclid Street.

For details of Swindon Twin Peaks, contact Eunice Salmon, mail: eunice.salmon@ntlworld.com

Breakthrough branch hopes for £250,000 total

Shirley Garman, left, and Eunice Salmon, right, from Breakthrough and CellOps staff, Gemma Dilella, Sarah Bunn, Kevin Murphy, Sarah Lang , Jenny Pearce, Carmella Ferro

Staff at Cellular Operations again generously dipped into their pockets to support a Breakthrough Breast Cancer breakfast in late October.

Catering company Jimmyšs Kitchen donated profits from selling bacon or sausage butties and staff paid £1 each to wear pink, or £2 to wear jeans and trainers. And Breakthrough Wiltshire branch members sold raffle tickets and pastries. Over £930 was raised.

Branch chairman Shirley Garman said the generosity from Cellular Operations staff had been tremendous and had contributed to the last £7,000 needed to achieve the massive target of £250,000 by the end of this year. "Two years ago the branch had raised about £100,000 over the last few years and we decided that we were going to raise another £150,000. People said we were mad, but wešre very close; all we need is a number of people to organise some events to help us break through that quarter of a million target. "If 60 pubs and clubs could each raise £100, wešd be there."

To help the Wiltshire branch, call Shirley on 538475. To make a donation, send cheques to Breakthough Breast Cancer Wiltshire, 50 Shelley Street, Swindon SN1 3PW.

CHRISTMAS COFFEE AFTERNOON

In aid of Walk the Walk for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and the Bristol Cancer Help Centre
Saturday 7 December, 2pm to 4pm. Upper Shaw Farm Centre, Ridge Green (opposite Shaw Ridge School), Swindon. Crafts, cakes on sale. Father Christmas grotto Crafts stalls available: call 770870 to book

'Now these are what I call bazookas'. Moonwalk organiser Nina Baru explains the aerodynamics of her outrageous bra to Prince Charles at a reception at Highgrove House for Breakthrough Breast Cancer Moonwalkers last October.

Swindon Twin Peaks coordinator Eunice Salmon and Ros Evans with Prince Charles and Nina
(Photos: Gloucestershire Echo)

New Yorkers warm to walking women

Wearing their finishers medals Denise left, with Liz Harren from Wootton Bassett holding the November Link and Lesley Dredge

Three women from Swindon who love stripping off for charity joined twenty others from across Britain to walk the New York marathon course with 32,400 runners on 4 November.

Wearing bras decorated with the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes the women supporting Walk the Walk in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer were the only team to power walk the 26 miles around the five boroughs of the city in sub-zero temperatures. At 18 miles many of the team had to cover up to prevent hypothermia.

"It was incredibly cold, especially when we crossed the bridges where the wind was highest," said Denise Jones from Nine Elms. "I didn't realise it but my boobs were going blue and others were suffering, even the runners." Having never been to New York, Denise found the experience incredible. "The crowds were amazed to see women walking along in bras in those temperatures and kept shouting, 'you're so crazy.' Everybody was so friendly and we had to keep stopping to have our picture taken. It's definitely something I want to do again."

In the last year Denise and her neighbour Lesley Dredge have raised £5,400 for breast cancer from walks in London and New York and events such as the West Swindon open gardens weekend in July.