Despatches from a mother who started late (and is running to catch up)

Moon Walk - part one

If I'm being honest, I had serious doubts about whether I'd manage the thirteen miles for the Half Moon, but a combination of adrenalin, friendship, group solidarity and pasta got me over the finish line in Inverleith Park at 4.27am on Sunday. I staggered home at 5am and have only stopped sleeping since then to phone friends and family, take hot baths and gorge on yet more carbohydrates. We arrived at the giant pink fluorescent tent about 9pm the night before, checked out the loos, got temporary tattoos, took photos and feasted on the pasta the organisers had provided for all the walkers. We sat on the tent floor and arranged our decorated bras while a band called Swing Cats played. A doctor from a local hospital here in Edinburgh told us how the money raised is going to build a second operating theatre and rebuild the breast cancer ward there. She was crying as she spoke. Then we all stood up, linked hands and had a minute's silence while we thought about loved ones affected by breast cancer. Tears were pouring down many people's faces. The mood lightened when an aerobics instructor got on stage and had us all - all ten thousand of us, men as well as women, young and old - dancing and warming up.

Hundreds of Edinburgh residents came out onto the streets to cheer us on. A thousand volunteers stayed up all night to keep us all going, waiting on street corners to encourage us and give us bottles of water. Paramedics were driving about on quad bikes. The police held up traffic for us. Drivers tooted their horns. My sister was high-fiving people on the pavement who'd come to cheer us on.

A night to remember.

Further write-ups to follow.... when I've recovered sufficiently.

Posted 22 June 2009 21:25

Activities Edinburgh Friends Health Pelvic girdle pain/SPD

Comments

Catriona said:

Well done ye! I am proud to know you!

Posted 22 June 2009 23:54

zornhau! said:

You rock!

Posted 23 June 2009 09:30

Littlemummy said:

This is fab, good on you.

Posted 23 June 2009 11:07

Rob Clack said:

Wow! Well done!

Posted 23 June 2009 12:48

Half Mum Half Biscuit said:

Well done you!

I have tagged you at mine, having just come across your blog (which someone really did tell me about in the play ground). I hope you don;t mind.

Posted 23 June 2009 14:00