Get your bras on and hit the streets!
A THOUSAND woman are being urged to walk through Inverness in the moonlight wearing decorated bras.
It's part of an unusual and fun effort to raise thousands of pounds for the fight against breast cancer.
And this year the Highland News Group is pleased to be lending its support as official partners of the Bra Nicht Walk.
The 13-mile trek through the streets of Inverness will take place on June 4, starting at 10pm. The organisers want it to be the biggest and best yet and want walkers to sign up now.
The walk has already raised in the region of 130,000 in the previous three years it was held.
The Bra Nicht Walk is a legacy to the memory of MacMillan breast cancer health professionals Mel Rose, who died in a car crash, and Nancy Hamilton, who tragically succumbed to cancer before the inaugural event she helped organise took place. However, her partner Graham Whyte continues to help arrange the fund-raiser.
Denise Sutherland (46), who is one of the small team of volunteers who organise the event, explained last year the number of walkers was down on 2009 and they are determined to turn it around this year.
She said: "There are probably a number of reasons the event was down on last year, including financial commitments and the number of different fund-raising events out there. But we are really hoping to hit the 1,000 walkers target this year, like in 2009.
"Including myself and Graham, there are only six volunteers that help out with the organisation of this. We do it in our lunch hours or after work. But we feel so strongly about the cause, and we've witnessed for ourselves the great things the money can do for cancer patients and their families."
This year, the Bra Nicht walker who raises the most amount of cash will receive a prize to encourage the winner to keep on exercising.
Denise said: "Very kindly, Inverness Leisure have offered the person taking part in the walk who raises the most amount of cash a prize of a year's free membership at Inverness Leisure, so we are hoping that will entice folk to give it their best shot."
The money which is raised stays in the Highlands and organisers are very keen to keep it that way.
Denise explained: "I think it's very important that people who are raising money for the cause know the money will help patients and family in the area."
So far, the money raised has helped open drop-in centres for breast cancer patients in Wick and Skye. Thousands of pounds was spent last year on new equipment at Raigmore Hospital for deep tissue biopsies which allow more accurate diagnosis and also helps the surgery (if needed) to be less invasive.
And smaller projects such as massage therapy, make-up lessons and jewellery-making therapy sessions for cancer patients has been achieved thanks to the cash.
Denise explained: "The smaller projects which the money goes towards are just as important as the bigger purchases such as new specialist equipment. It's about making a difference to a person with cancer's life."
Bra Nicht a living legacy to friends Mel and Nancy
THE Bra Nicht Walk, which has been so successful in raising thousands of pounds for cancer awareness, was the vision of a "strong woman" who wanted some good to come out of the tragic circumstances in which a close friend died.
For Nancy Hamilton, who worked in the breast cancer unit at Raigmore Hospital, decided to organise the first Bra Nicht Walk when her close friend, Mel Rose (36) died in a car accident on the A9 just south of the Cromarty Bridge in December 2007. Mel was a breast cancer nurse with Macmillian in Inverness.
Unfortunately, Nancy did not see the event come to fruition, because just months after Mel's death, she sadly died of secondary breast cancer.
However, knowing just how important the event was to Nancy, her partner Graham Whyte decided to continue with preparations for the Bra Nicht Walk, with the help of some of Nancy's close friends in a bid to fulfil one her wishes before she died.
Denise Sutherland, of Inverness, who was Nancy's friend and now helps put the event together, explained it's something which is close to her heart and told the HN it's still as important this year as it was four years ago.
She said: "Unfortunately, almost one person in three will be touched by cancer sometime in their lives. The money we raised has helped so many projects, some of them big and some of them just making a small difference in someone who is battling cancer's life. Nancy was a strong woman and she was always wanting to help other people get on their feet in some way."
She added: "I know she would be so proud to see the success of the event, but I know it would make her so happy to see the event grow. And that's what we want this year, to see the event grow. I know she would be so proud to see what good the walk has done and how much money it's raised so far."
