Client director Kerry Prentice (36) is married to Mark (37) and mum to Erin (10) and Rhia (8). After completing the London Moonwalk three years ago, she convinced her fellow Regent House school (Newtownards) mums that they should give the Edinburgh one a go. She says:

I did the Moonwalk in London three years ago and found it an incredibly humbling yet exhilarating experience. It was mind blowing how many people had signs on bags or clothing explaining why they were doing the walk. The terrifying statistic is that in a group of nine women one of them at some stage in their lives will be affected by breast cancer. Four years ago when I was living in England one of the mums I knew from the school playground lost her life to breast cancer. And just three years ago my aunt also died from the disease when she was in her mid-50s. It's an illness that affects so many women and I wanted to be able to do something to help raise money and awareness to combat it.

The Moonwalk is a terrific event because it is 90% women and there's a fantastic atmosphere generated by all those taking part. This year there are expected to be 10,000 women walking in Edinburgh. I'm not sure of the route yet - there are some significantly big hills in the city - but we've been training hard on hills around Newtownards so hopefully we'll be fine.

I'm glad that I'm able to do it, the last few years I had other things on but this year there were no real excuses. I was delighted that when I floated the idea with the girls that they were all keen to get involved. We're all Regent House school mums and have known each other for quite a while, but walking together has really helped us bond, although, on my part at least, there's been no weight loss despite all the training.

Friendship

Not only have we got to know each other better, but also I feel I know Northern Ireland a bit more as we've taken in Newtownards, Crawfordsburn, Bangor and Holywood, building up our distances.

I'd like to think that some of us will keep up the walking after the event is over.

We've had a great response on the fund-raising front, from coffee mornings and sponsorship to a 'pink dinner party' I organised where everyone wore something pink and made a donation to a two-course meal. At the moment we've raised more than £1,500, but we hope even more will come in.

People's jaws drop a bit when I tell them that the walk is at midnight and many of the women walk in their bras, but I think that just adds a bit of a fun element to it. The bra part is optional but I think we are all planning to get together and have a bit of a bra decorating night in preparation although I think some might be worn over T-shirts.

Diane Eakin (39) is married to Jeremy (39) and mum to Peter (12), Hannah (9) and Megan (7). The French and Spanish teacher isn't afraid of walking in her bra and loves the idea of living life to the full. She says:

I've never done anything like this before. At home it's always the children who are involved in any sort of fundraising through school or the Scouts so it's great to be the one doing something for a change.

I think the Moonwalk is a great idea and the idea of wearing the bras is very cool, but I might be a bit more extrovert compared to the rest! I'm really looking forward to organising a night when we can get together and decorate our bras. I'm always game for anything and try and live life to the full.

At first I was worried because my husband is away the weekend of the walk and I wasn't sure who could look after the children - but then two friends said they would do it which was brilliant. The children have been very enthusiastic and my youngest daughter has been giving me the change out of her dinner money to go towards the fundraising. So far we've raised over a £1,000 pounds through coffee mornings, individual sponsorship and in school the staff had a handbag swap. Everybody brought in a handbag and then donated £5 to swap it for a new one.

Justify

I have a little bit of experience with breast cancer in that my friend's mother and sister were both diagnosed with it, but thankfully no personal experience. I think it's great that we are doing something worthwhile but we're definitely going to enjoy our time away as well. I think it's interesting that women have guilt about weekends away and almost have to justify it by doing something like a fundraiser.

Pauline Davidson (40) is married to Colin (39) and mum to Emma (10) and Sophie (7). The full-time mum says it's her turn to get out and do something different. She says:

I'm a stay at home mum and have been for quite some time so I'm really looking forward to having a new challenge. All the Regent House mums were out at a social evening when Kerry suggested doing it.

She'd done it a few years ago and said it was fun so I thought it would be good to get involved.

I think I've definitely become fitter and I've got to see lots of the countryside on all the walks that we've been doing. It's not always easy to set aside time for exercise when there's housework and children to look after, but this has been a great motivator.

I have no personal experience of breast cancer, but I think it's a cause that all women can easily relate to because it does affect so many people.

Opportunities

I was really glad that we're going to be able to make a weekend out of it because I don't get a huge amount of opportunities to get away and it's nice when something comes along that is such a good cause and worth it.

I am a wee bit anxious about finishing the walk. We all started off thinking we could do the whole marathon, but then realised that realistically that might be pushing ourselves a bit too far. Over 13 miles is still quite a challenge. I hurt my back a while ago and I've been going for physio and find it a bit difficult walking. But I'm very determined and I don't want to let myself or the others down. And who knows, maybe next year we might be able to give the whole marathon a go!