Mary Bowman was well prepared to walk more than 50 miles in aid of charity, but never envisaged taking part in the challenge with her bra on display.
The 22-year-old student from Pitlochry is just one of thousands of women who have bared the flesh for a poignant cause, as part of Walk the Walk.
The charity is the largest grant making breast cancer charity in the UK, although the majority of money raised in Scotland is used for local charities, including Maggie’s centres.
The initiative was founded 21 years ago in New York and has been running in Scotland for the past 12 years, with more than £20million raised in the process.
Participants are able to take part in various challenges all over the world from marathons to trekking 26.2 miles in the Arctic. After plenty of training, Mary decided to take part in the Over The Moon challenge earlier this year and is urging participants to get signed up for walks in 2018.
She has battled her way back to fitness after a horse riding accident left her unable to exercise, and Mary believes the challenge has changed her life for the better.
“I still can’t believe I completed the challenge and the feeling when I made it over the finish line was amazing,” said Mary, who is studying Rural Business Management at SSRC.
“My friends all thought I was a bit mad but I’m really proud I managed to finish the route.
“I’ve actually taken up running and life has definitely changed for the better thanks to Walk the Walk, I’ve lost more than two stone thanks to all the exercise.
“I fell off a horse three years ago and fractured my hip, I had to build the muscle back up and I’ve managed to really turn things around.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself and my confidence has really improved, I took a hoody with me and when it got a bit chilly I just popped it on over my bra.
“I signed up in February and I don’t think I could have managed to do the challenge completely on my own.
“There were about 40 of us who were in training but one of my biggest supporters was fellow participant, Mo Cairncross.
“I’ve come away from the experience with a new friendship, Mo was an amazing support.
“I remember buying a Fitbit at the very beginning and that kept me on track but there was a fair bit of planning involved.
“My weekends were taken up with training, my aim was four miles in an hour with three big walks in the lead up.
“I could barely walk by the time I made it over the finish line and I actually ended up doing the distance by accident.
“When I was training I completed a 13-mile route instead of 13km, and the fact that I tackled it spurred me on to go for the 52 miles.
“I used to work on estates and was incredibly active before my accident, the challenge means my fitness has returned.
“I didn’t feel comfortable baring lots of flesh when it came to wearing my bra, but I just kept thinking of all the women who are battling breast cancer every single day.
“The statistics are scary and this has been my way of showing my support.
“I’m not in a hurry to do 52 miles again but I would urge people to take part, there are so many different challenges and the impact the walk had on my life has been amazing.”
WALK THE WALK
The charity was founded in 1996 by Nina Barough, who came up with the idea of power walking the New York marathon in decorated bras to raise money for a good cause.
Thirteen women took part before Nina was diagnosed with Breast Cancer the following year, but word spread and troops were rallied to take part in the London Marathon.
Bras were designed by celebrities such as Paul Smith, Mary Quant and Richard Branson and by 1998, The Moon Walk was born.
The Moon Walk saw women set off at midnight on the eve of the London marathon and walk through the night in a bid to pass a baton on to those who were completing the marathon. Following successful treatment, Nina completed both events, a total of 52.4 miles in 24 hours.
Many participants don a decorated bra having undergone reconstruction surgery, and even male walkers are sent a bra.
Walk the Walk has raised more than £100million since its conception and shows no sign of slowing down.
To register your interest for The Moon Walk Scotland 2018 visit www.walkthewalk.org