Scientists have revealed how a north-east community’s charity walk has grown from humble beginnings to help fund several life-saving breast cancer studies.
When the Moonlight Prowl was launched in Fraserburgh eight years ago organisers initially hoped to raise enough to buy a new TV or sofa for the waiting room of Aberdeen’s breast care centre.
Over the years, the annual after-dark procession has made more than £625,000 for ground-breaking cancer research at Aberdeen University, as well as helping to kit out its laboratory with vital equipment.
With just days to go before the ninth event, Professor Steven Heys, who heads up the university’s breast cancer programme, said the fund-raising had made an “enormous difference” to ongoing research projects.
“We have six programmes of work underway thanks to Prowl money,” he said.
“This includes the recruitment of over 2,000 women for an investigation into diet, lifestyle and genes and their role in the development of breast cancer.
“Weight gain is a common and persistent problem for many who have had breast cancer and this is associated with an increased risk of the disease returning and other health problems.
“Prowl money is helping us develop a weight loss programme for breast cancer patients.”
He said walk funds were also being used to investigate cancer stem cells that live within tumours and are believed to play a critical role in disease recurrence and spread.
Another project is looking at ways in which spirituality, meaning and hopefulness can help ease the fear and loneliness of breast cancer and offer new grounds for healing.
Dr Heys added: “We can’t thank enough the organisers of the Prowl, the woman who take part and all those who support the walkers, because without all of their support, research into breast cancer would not be so wide-ranging and innovative as it currently is in Aberdeen.”
One of the Prowl founders, Margaret-Jane Cardno said the walk had become a “real community event”.
“People in Fraserburgh who live on the walk route decorate their gardens and are out cheering the walkers on,” she said.
“Businesses in the town also get behind the Moonlight Prowl by putting up decorations The colour pink pops up across the town.”
This year’s Prowl takes place on Saturday, June 7.
