A sea of pink descended on south London as Moonwalk City took over Clapham Common for its annual marathon last weekend.
For one night the London suburb became more like a Rio festival as walkers of all shapes and sizes embraced the Carnival theme and donned decorated bras to walk 26.2 miles in aid of breast cancer awareness.
One walker was Battersea MP Jane Ellison, who is public health minister with responsibility for cancer.
She said: “Even a bit of a chill in the air couldn’t dampen the carnival atmosphere on one of the most remarkable nights of fundraising any of us have ever had the pleasure of taking part in.
“For me, the knowledge that the money raised is making such a big difference in the fight against cancer makes the occasion all the more moving.”
Nina Barough, who founded the event in 1996, talked of how moving she found everyone’s contributions, with fundraising reaching £3.5 million before a single step had been taken.
Comedienne Jennifer Saunders also made a speech alongside charity ambassador and actress Harriet Thorpe.
Harriet said: “I’m so proud and in awe when I see all of you, especially in this year when we have lost women like Victoria Wood, a friend, with whom I first walked the moonwalk 13 years ago”.
The walk crosses many London landmarks, including London Bridge, Big Ben, the Tower, Harrods and the Houses of Parliament.
When asked what her favourite part of the route was, walker Jane Ellis, 34, said: “I loved seeing it all at night, but the people who came out to cheer us were definitely the best bit.
“We even got a full New Zealand hacka from some supporters on a terrace as we walked down through Clapham. It really kept us going.”
The Moonwalk re-opens for its 21st year in 2017 with a ‘roaring twenties’ theme on Thursday May 17.
