The organisers of a hugely successful charity walk, which has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for cancer patients in the north-east, have confirmed the event is being discontinued.
The Bling Fling raised nearly £300,000 for a range of cancer charities, including the ARCHIE Foundation and Breast Cancer Care, during a five-year period.
But now, officials have decided to call a halt to the annual event, which took place in Duthie Park in May every year.
However, as a final parting gift, the Bling Fling is donating the remainder of its funds, £7,800, to Archway and Friends of Anchor.
Archway supports children and adults with learning disabilities, while Friends backs the Anchor cancer unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI).
The Friends donation will go towards its Dream Big appeal, which was launched earlier this year, and aims to raise £1million to bring a world-class cancer research team to the area.
The volunteer organisers behind the walk took to social media yesterday to thank the public for their support.
Their post on Facebook said: “Over five years, your efforts made life so much easier for people facing a cancer diagnosis or bringing up children with learning difficulties in Aberdeen.”
The event was established by Press and Journal sub editor, Sonja Rasmussen, and her friends while she was going through treatment for breast cancer.
It was designed as a way of celebrating and paying tribute to those who have been affected by the disease while also raising vital funds for research and treatment.
Every year, hundreds of women dressed up in sparkly tutus, tiaras and t-shirts and walked either a 5k or 10k route around the park.
The group’s Facebook post added: “Together we raised the amazing total of £312,800, as well as making wonderful memories with the hundreds of people who walked the Bling Fling with us, and made thousands of lives easier as a result.
“Thanks for everything you did to help us on the Bling Fling journey, and we hope you will keep supporting the charities which are so dear to us. Celebrate life and friendship always.”
