Our History

How it started

Walk the Walk came into being 11 years ago when just 13 women Power Walked the New York City Marathon in their bras to raise money  and awareness for breast cancer. What started out as a one-off fundraising event, has blossomed into a thriving multi-million pound charity, raising to date in excess of £46 million for vital breast cancer causes.

The charity was  founded by Nina Barough who at that time ran her own production company. Nina woke one morning with what seemed like a ‘fun’ idea to Power Walk the New York City Marathon in decorated bras to raise money for a good cause. What makes the beginning of this story so magical is that Nina at that time had no experience of fundraising or taking part in a marathon nor did she know anyone who had been affected by breast cancer. 

In November 1996 the dream became a reality, and after much training and fundraising,13 courageous women took to the streets of New York in their bras. In truth they were all signed up for a fun weekend in New York however it resulted in the team raising over £25,000 which was then donated to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Word soon got around and people started to call Nina  asking if they could join her next walking challenge. Due to her work commitments it was doubtful if that would happen, but then fate intervened.

Fate lends a hand

In January 1997, Nina not only discovered she had breast cancer herself but that it was an aggressive tumour, which she had most probably had for about 3 years. As a result her world was thrown upside down as she had to give up her business and embark on a programme of treatment including a mastectomy followed by radiotherapy, with a 2 year course of Zoladex injections and Tamoxifen. As is often the case in difficult times, those around her felt very helpless so it seemed that at the height of the Spice Girls and Girl Power, to encourage a team to Power Walk  the London Marathon would be a really positive way of supporting her.

The 1997 London Marathon was another huge success for the Walkers raising in excess of another £25,000. Only 3 days after the  marathon the first Walk the Walk auction was held to sell their bras that had been designed by celebrities such as Paul Smith, Mary Quant, Richard Branson and many more. Only days later Nina was admitted to hospital to begin her treatment.

And so The MoonWalk is born

In the spring of 1988, Walk the Walk entered its second team into the London Marathon.  25 Walkers claimed their place, however there were 25 who were not so lucky. Not wanting to disappoint them or waste their hard earned  fundraising or training, Nina decided to create a one off marathon for these girls. The intrepid 25, grew to 65, and on the eve of the London Marathon they set off at midnight with the intention of completing their marathon by 7.00am and passing on the ‘baton’ in Trafalgar Square to the girls that would be walking the official event…The MoonWalk was born!

Walk the Walk becomes an official charity

By 1998 it was clear that word was spreading. Nina took the first steps to find sponsors that would help her to fund the setting up of an official charity. The rest, as they say, is history!

It is hard to believe that Walk the Walk has only been an official charity for such a short time. Nina had managed to turn a simple idea into a dynamic charity which promotes a healthy and fit lifestyle and at the same time raises significant funds for breast cancer research and care. Nina’s passion for healthy eating and exercise has inspired many others; in fact joining Walk the Walk is often described as a life-changing event. Many women and men who have never power walked or been involved in any sort of fitness before are becoming ardent walkers. It appears that Walk the Walk is achieving its goal of encouraging women and men to become more aware and responsible for their own health and wellbeing.

A grant making charity

Walk the Walk is a grant making charity, which means that everybody taking part in their challenges is raising money for Walk the Walk. The charity then looks at various projects and campaigns that are involved with breast cancer and granst funds to where we know it will make the most difference. Our policy is to support research, which we feel is our future, and certainly over the past 10 years great breakthroughs have been made, and also to support those that have cancer now with equipment and care.

Our flagship events are The MoonWalks in London and Edinburgh, and The SunWalks in Newcastle and Bristol. But we also organise trips to other parts of the country and indeed the world to encourage people to keep taking on new challenges and to keep them motivated.

Our Patron

Since 2000 HRH Prince Charles has been a huge supporter of Walk the Walk, endorsing the ethos and values of the charity with his own values towards integrated and holistic cancer care, the benefits of organic foods and the support that we all need to give to the environment. Consequently in 2004 when the charity felt it was time to find a suitable Patron, he was the obvious choice and fortunately for us, said “yes.”

Walk the Walk steps into the future

Making quantum leaps year on year, to date we have encouraged over 160,000 people to take on a walking  challenge and raised in excess of £46 million. Our MoonWalk in London is now over 10 years old and continues to support Breakthrough Breast Cancer with specific research projects, particularly The Generation Study. This is the largest study of its type and aims to track the health of over 100,000 women over a period of 40 years. We are also supporting some key research into the benefits of integrated care for breast cancer, something very close to our hearts. We are also big supporters of Penny Brohn Cancer Care, renowned for its work with cancer patients and integrated care. “The Bristol Approach” as it is known has been taken to many countries in the world and is the template for several similar organisations.  Learn more...

The MoonWalk Edinburgh has increased in size by 50% in just 3 years and succeeded in raising over £5 million by this event alone. In the short time that we have had a presence in Scotland  we have agreed to fund a much needed Maggie’s Centre in Glasgow and supported West Lothian NHS in a project to completely re-build the cancer ward at the Weston General Hospital in Edinburgh. We have also provided large numbers of scalp coolers (our own project) throughout the UK but also in various hospitals from the Borders to the Highlands and even the Isle of Skye! Learn more...

Having taken trademarks and licences in most part of the world, perhaps our most adventurous plan at the moment is to transport the dynamic energy and camaraderie of The MoonWalk to other countries and allow them to receive the benefits of this amazing challenge that unites so many.

Our motto…Raise money, Raise awareness, Get fit and Have fun!…Walk the Walk is reaching its goals!.