Thousands join in charity walks

Thousands of people took part in the MoonWalk event

In Pictures: Edinburgh MoonWalk

Thousands of people have taken part in a series of marathon walks for charity across Scotland.

In Edinburgh, about 11,000 women and 1,000 men took to the streets for the MoonWalk event, which involved them walking overnight in their bras.

Landmarks, including Edinburgh Castle, have been lit pink for the event, which raises money for cancer charities.

And about 1,350 walkers from around the world were walking 54 miles along the West Highland Way.

Teams from around the globe aimed to complete the route from Fort William to Loch Lomond within 24 hours.

The RBS Caledonian Challenge has been running since 1997 and aims to raise money for community projects across Scotland.

Robert Valentine was the first person to finish the trek in a time of just over nine hours 44 minutes.

To get 12,000 people taking part was a great turn out and we were really happy to have about 1,000 men taking part in their bras as well Walk the Walk spokeswoman

This is the third year of the MoonWalk in which the walkers take part in a full marathon or a half marathon.

Organisers said they hoped to raise £3m for breast cancer charities.

Singer Michelle McManus was among those who completed the shorter "half moon" course.

The celebrity, who won the TV series Pop Idol in 2003, donned a bright pink wig for the walk, which she did along with two friends.

A spokeswoman for Walk the Walk, the grant-making charity behind the MoonWalk, said it had been a great success.

"We're really happy with how it all went," she said.

"The weather was ideal for a MoonWalk and the atmosphere was amazing.

"To get 12,000 people taking part was a great turn out and we were really happy to have about 1,000 men taking part in their bras as well."

Previous money from the MoonWalk Edinburgh has gone towards The Breast Cancer Institute in Edinburgh, Maggie's Cancer Care Centre, Glasgow and scalp coolers - which are used to help prevent hair loss in those being treated for cancer.

Nina Barough, chief executive and founder of Walk the Walk, spoke about the event and said: "The beauty and spirit of the city by night conjures up a very special atmosphere for the MoonWalk, attracting people far and beyond to join us."