Be inspired by courageous Nina, who has had to dig deep in the face of adversity.
Battling cancer taught Nina Barough lessons that turned out to be invaluable for the global pandemic
Waking from an eventful dream, I felt absolute clarity. In my dream, I had powerwalked the New York marathon wearing nothing up top but a bra, to raise money for a breast cancer charity. I loved walking, but I’d never fundraised before and had no connection to breast cancer. But I decided to make the dream come true.
A few months later, in November 1996, I passed the finish line of the New York marathon with 12 friends, wwwwww.myweeklymyweekly.coco.uk raising £25,000 for a breast cancer charity. Wearing a bra in public was outrageously controversial at the time and my friends and I received a great deal of attention from the thousands of supporters along the 26 mile route. Our photo even made it into The New York Times.
It felt brilliant to have found a novel yet accessible way to raise awareness about such an important cause.
Two months later, in January 1997, I found a lump in my breast. I wouldn’t have noticed it were it not for my heightened awareness of breast cancer, but I had it checked out within weeks.
My connection to breast cancer was set in stone for life when I was diagnosed with grade three aggressive breast cancer.
My life had been full to the brim. I ran my own styling and production company for media photographers, travelled the country and the world, staying in amazing places, saw friends, worked hard and had fun.
When I was diagnosed, my life came to an abrupt and immediate standstill. I had to give up my business. My flat and the hospital became my world as I underwent a mastectomy then radiotherapy and two years of injections.
My days were filled with waiting and uncertainty. At first, the situation was allconsuming and I couldn’t see past it. But after a while, I came to terms with my new reality. I realised I had a rare opportunity. I had time to do anything I wanted without any
pressure to be anywhere else.
I began to enjoy simple things. I went for a walk every day. I cooked meals from scratch, using fresh, healthy ingredients. I learned to meditate, which wasn’t easy in such a stressful situation, but really helped. I discovered Pilates, drawing and painting. I read books I’d been meaning to read for years. I made contact with old friends I’d lost touch with, nourishing and nurturing connections with people I loved.
All this added up to making me feel good during a very dark time. Out of this storm came a rainbow – the idea for my own breast cancer charity, Walk the Walk. In 1998 I launched The MoonWalk London, an overnight walking marathon through the city, with participants invited to walk in their bras.
Twenty-two years on, Walk
“Our events are a beacon of hope, celebration and fun”
the Walk has raised over
£133 million. Thousands of women and men take part in our overnight walking marathons in London, Edinburgh and Iceland, wearing decorated bras. There are gemstones, sequins, feathers and flowers and the creativity participants put into their outfits far exceeds my now 24 year old dream. Our events are a beacon of hope, celebration and fun and I remain involved in every event.
When lockdown arrived, many of the Walk the Walk team were furloughed and all our events were cancelled or postponed.
Thousands of people who were looking forward to taking part in our events have had to wait while we reschedule. The adrenaline, uncertainty,