Bra-lliant Bristol walk to beat cancer

Emotions were running high at Bristol's annual SunWalk event yesterday as thousands of women and men in brightly-coloured bras walked to raise money for breast cancer causes.

Many power-walked in the sun from Ashton Court to celebrate recovering from the disease, while others took part in memory of loved ones who have died.

Almost 2,000 women, men and children travelled from all over the country to take part in the fifth annual walk organised by breast cancer charity Walk the Walk. They took on the personal challenge of either the 5km, 10km or half-marathon walk.

Among them were Paul and Dawn Drake, from Wokingham, Berkshire, and their friend Kaye Broom, from Newbury, Berkshire, who took part in the half-marathon walk.

Dawn, 47, said: "My mum Minnie had breast cancer last year. She has been treated and at the moment she is all clear. It's a really fun atmosphere and it's great to see so many men here as well."

Pauline Bennett, from Tewkesbury, in Gloucestershire, and her friends Bev King, 40, Jonathan Cox, 53, Helen Cox, 40, and Janet Brown, 43, also walked the half marathon.

Pauline, 49, was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2007, and has now been given the all-clear.

She said: "We're all going to have a giggle as we walk around and have a really good day. The atmosphere here is brilliant."

In the warm fields of Ashton Court, everyone held hands and took part in a minute's silence before the start of the walk to reflect on why they were taking part, before giving their neighbour a hug.

It is hoped that this year's event raised £500,000 for breast cancer causes and research projects that will benefit people across the UK.

Money will also go towards the charity's scalp cooler programme. Scalp coolers are machines which can help cancer sufferers keep their hair during chemotherapy.

Friends Jen Conlan, 25, Martin Brister, 23, and Becky Dunn, 22, from Chard, Somerset, dressed up as dragons for the half-marathon.

All have family members who have been affected by the disease. The friends raised £600 for breast cancer causes.

Husband and wife Eric, 62, and Gill Mitchell, 63, from Edington, in Wiltshire, also took on the half-marathon walk.

Gill has beaten breast cancer three times, including once just three years ago.

Eric, who dressed up in a bright pink fluffy bra to support his wife, said: "It feels like we've been through cancer together. We go to all the check-ups together; we do everything together, so I wanted to get dressed up and do this walk together."

Gill added: "The generosity of people has been amazing. We have raised £800 so far but there is more to come."

Mother and daughter Linda, 55, and Gina Ferbrache, 23, from Bournemouth, dressed in pink bras for the half-marathon walk.

Linda said: "I lost my father to cancer, and a family friend died recently of cancer, so we wanted to take part for them."

Friends Kate Cropper, 37, her sister-in-law, also Kate Cropper, 30, Elaine Francis, 36, and Vicky Hall, 33, from Wotton-under-Edge, in Gloucestershire, got in the spirit of the walk by dressing up in bright pink.

Kate said: "We've all known young people to die of cancer, and because we're now at that age, in our 30s, you start to think about breast cancer more; it could happen to you."

Nina Barough, founder and chief executive of Walk the Walk, took part in the 5km walk with her nine-month-old daughter Raphaelle in a push-chair.

Nina, who battled breast cancer in 1997, told the Evening Post: "Our motto is raise money, raise awareness, get fit and have fun. There is a fantastic exchange – we encourage people to get fitter, and in return they raise money for the breast cancer charity.

"It's been wonderful. Just looking around, everyone is in their bras with lots of decoration. It's a real carnival atmosphere."