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Claire masters the Moonwalk

SUFFERING sore feet and aching limbs, EMS account manager Claire Catherall, returned to her desk after walking a marathon 26.2 miles to raise cash for two cancer charities.

Claire joined 15,000 other walkers in Hyde Park, London, sporting a bra decorated with purple fluff, tassels and brightly coloured stars.

Along with nine other friends from across the country Claire completed the London Marathon route through night-time central London in nine hours.

The epic journey began at 11.30pm, with a rousing send off by the comedy star Victoria Wood. The Playtex Moonwalk raises much-needed cash for Breast Cancer Research and Cancer Care. Organisers hope to have this year raised more than £4m.

Thousands of women, including celebrities such as Sally Gunnell and Koo Stark, and a few brave men, walked through the night of May 15.

Initial shyness about stripping off for the event was soon beaten. "When there are 15,000 other women stripping down to their bras, you can't be bashful for long," said Claire.

"It was a hard long walk, not helped by the fact my feet were still blistered from my last 17 mile training walk. I was determined to continue and seeing fellow walkers holding balloons and signs dedicated to relatives and friends who had died from breast cancer, was an emotional inspiration," said Claire.

Besides playing badminton once a week with EMS colleague Laura McDonald, Claire's training regime was limited to four practise walks.

Claire has already accepted her next challenge. She will walk down the aisle of Flint parish church on July 10, when she marries designer Graham Wilson (26). "I'm sure that day will be a little more stressful," admitted the bride-to-be.