WEST Devon residents are being invited to take part in MoorWalk 2009, a pink-themed walk for all the family which raises money for Cancer Research UK.

The route comprises three elements, the first is a six mile flattish route following  the Granite Way Trail to Meldon Resevoir and the Viaduct: the second is a scenic six-mile route leading  onto the moor and along picturesque pathways: and the third is 12 miles of a truly spectacular route climbing high onto the moor on good terrain.  The event is being organised by Lyndridge Fundraisers in support of Cancer Research UK and breast cancer research.

The event starts at 11 am on Sunday July  12 from Simmons Park, Okehampton,  and entrants can choose which length walk they want to do on the day. 

The crossed pink ribbon is the breast cancer symbol and for the event, people are being encouraged to make pink the colour of the day and to come dressed in something pink and wacky.

This year the event has a bit of a twist as it is being linked in with the very popular final day of the Okehampton Sports and Fitness Festival and will offer a wide variety of other activities for all the family at the start and finish.

Activities include a free swim, inflatables, children's play and art sessions, a football tournament and skills session and demonstrations of a wide range of sports.  There will also be music entertainment and much more.

Mary Squire, a past participant from Okehampton, said: 'I would urge people to sign up for MoorWalk and help raise funds for breast cancer research. 

'I  had a brilliant  time last year dressing up in pink, joining in the walk with people of all ages, and thoroughly enjoyed the day.

'The atmosphere is wonderful and I would recommend it to anyone.'  Sylvia Arlett, area manager for Cancer Reserach UK,  said: 'We are delighted with the response we have had so far.  

'We are hoping that there are still a lot more people out there who will help us raise money to fight breast cancer whilst having an enjoyable time, so please pick up the phone and call 01395 282705 or email [email protected]">[email protected] for the walk application.'

The walk can also be done at pace — anyone who would like to run it should contact Stuart Lord at Ocra on [email protected]">[email protected]

Each year 42,000 women in the UK and 11,000 in the south west are diagnosed with breast cancer and one in nine women in the UK will develop the disease at some point in their lives.

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: 'Many women do not realise that the risk of breast cancer increases with age — the older the woman, the higher her risk.

'For example, a woman's risk of developing breast cancer by the age of 30 is around one in 2,000 but by the age of 60 it's around one in 25 and eight out of ten cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women over fifty.'

But thanks to research, better treatments and earlier detection, the death rate for breast cancer has fallen by a fifth in the past decade.

Cancer Research UK is the leading funder of breast cancer research in the UK, spending £25 million last year on this form of cancer alone.