I’ll be doing the moonwalk to honour friends I’ve lost and the ones who won their battle and moved on
WALK TALL AUTHOR VAL TALKS ABOUT WHY SHE'S TAKING ON CHARITY CHALLENGE
WHEN Val McDermid takes a 13-mile walk for charity, she’ll be paying tribute to those she’s lost to breast cancer and friends fighting the disease.
It was the crime queen’s own medical bombshell that led her to undertake a secret regime to get fit.
It will culminate in a “half moon” walk this summer to raise funds for charity.
Val said: “I’ve lost friends to breast cancer. I’ve been by friends’ sides while they fight that battle and I’ve seen them move on with their lives.”
And while dealing with a devastating diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, Val, best known for her books on criminal psychologist Tony Hill, discovered diet and exercise can reverse the condition.
She said: “The other side of the coin is my determination to work on my health and this seemed like a good target.”
The 61-year-old, who has sold more than 10million books worldwide, will join thousands of other women in Edinburgh on June 10 for the half-marathon.
Val said: “I hope to raise about £5000 but at the same time help raise awareness of this disease. There’s few of us who don’t know someone who has fought breast cancer.”
She pauses as if someone has come to mind, before adding: “My friend Sally. We met a long time ago and she ended up becoming a close friend.
“She was a maths teacher. She was a wonderfully funny lady and well-respected in her work.
“She seemed to be responding to treatment and everything appeared to be going the right way. She fell ill at a party and it transpired the cancer had returned and she became very ill quickly. She lost her battle in 2013.”
While Val says she’s been lucky with her family genetics in that none of the women have suffered from breast cancer, many of her close friends are still battling.
“Stella Duffy, who wrote about her breast cancer experience, and broadcaster Dame Jenni Murray are friends of mine who have shared their horrendous battles.”
She said: “I’m doing this in tribute to them as well. They’ve shown tremendous courage and strength in the face of this disease.”
Val is forthright and pragmatic and it was that attitude she adopted when she was told she had Type 2 diabetes.
She said: “I decided to take back control of my health and become fitter and stronger.
“I’ve lost three stone in 15 months and gradually increased my levels of exercise.
“I’ve got a treadmill and I’ll do half an hour on that. It’s all helping and I’m feeling the benefits of it, so I thought why not put this new fitness to the test?”
Val added: “My partner, Jo, who I married last year, is doing the walk with me. We’re looking forward to it and I’d love if people could help me reach my target figure and help make a difference for other people too.” To sponsor Val go to https:// moonwalkscotland2017.everydayhero.com/uk/val If you want to sign up visit www.walkthewalk.org
I’d love it if people could help me reach my target and make a difference VAL McDERMID