Founders of a hugely-successful charity walk have said they are “humbled” to be chosen for a prestigious honour.
The Moonlight Prowl in Fraserburgh has raised more than £800,000 for breast cancer research at Aberdeen University in just ten years.
It has helped finance a number of pioneering studies.
Now the seven women behind it are to be presented with the Benefactor to the University award in recognition of their efforts.
And they intend to accept it on behalf of the many thousands of volunteers and participants who had helped make such an impact.
The university said their “tireless commitment” had paid for crucial equipment used in studies of cancer cells, research into issues such as links between cancer and diet, the benefits of fish oil and support programmes.
“Their contribution to the University, however, goes beyond their donations to the research to their strides to raise awareness of the world-class medical research being conducted at the university. ”
The campaign’s chairwoman Margaret-Jane Cardno said: “It is absolutely amazing to receive such an honour. We are surprised and extremely humbled.
“Even though it is the committee that are being honoured, we have had a huge, huge amount of support.
“Around 120 volunteers have been mobilised to help run the event and so, so many ladies have turned out to walk.
“We are happy to accept such a lovely award on their behalf.”
She said the secret of the event – which attracted up to 1,500 women at a time to join a sponsored after-dark walk – was that every penny raised went to research at the university.
“Everyone who gives can be assured that the money is going to the right place and is all being used locally for research,” she said.
There was no walk in 2016, but Mrs Cardno reassured fans of the event that they were working on something new for next year.
“We did 10 years and we just thought we would take a year and look to refresh it – revitalise the event, do something completely different.
“We are currently having a think about what we will do in 2017.”
