Lanark duo will walk Over the Moon in double challenge

Mother and daughter aim to walk double the distance.

Once the regular walkers are finishing the marathon-length course, they will be setting out to do it all again – a total of 52.4 miles.

“We have taken part in the Edinburgh MoonWalk every year since it started,” said Linda. “This year, we are part of a small group doing a double circuit with a 14-hour time limit.

On Saturday, June 10, they will be among thousands of men and women walking through the capital at midnight wearing the charity’s trademark decorated bras – this year with a jungle safari theme – to raise awareness of breast cancer.

Linda said: “A very close friend was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2005, and we were desperate to do something to help, so when we heard about the launch of MoonWalk Scotland a few weeks later, the answer was staring us in the face.

“We signed up straight away, then started training.

“We completed our first marathon walk in about eight and a half hours and were sore for days, but we were hooked.

“The atmosphere in the MoonWalk tent was amazing as 8,000 women and a handful of men, all wearing decorated bras, held hands during a minute’s silence before setting off through the streets of Edinburgh.

“Louise and I have taken part in the MoonWalk every year since then and last year completed marathon walks in London, Edinburgh and Iceland.

“This year, Louise decided we needed a bigger challenge.

“This is a huge challenge, so we’re pretty nervous, hitting the training walks hard and hoping to raise £1,000 to support the amazing work done by Walk the Walk.”

Over the last 12 years, more than 80,000 people have taken part in the MoonWalk Scotland, raising over £19.6m for the breast cancer charity Walk the Walk.

Linda, 61, a part-time office worker at Lanark Grammar School, reckons she and Louise, 35, an actuary now living living in South Queenferrry, will have raised at least £10,000 over the years.

To support them this year, go to moonwalkscotland2017.everydayhero.com/uk/linda-anderson or, alternatively, to moonwalkscotland2017. everydayhero.com/uk/louise

And the friend who started it all? She recovered and has also completed a couple of MoonWalks.