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Nine big-hearted Bahrain residents will be stepping out for a good cause in London this weekend … complete with intricately-decorated brasieres.
The Desert Divas, a team consisting of eight women and bank worker Jonty Crosse, will take part in the 2017 London Moonwalk on Saturday. This is either a full-length marathon (26.2 miles) or Half Moonwalk (15.1 miles) overnight through the city of London, with the aim of raising awareness and funds to fight breast cancer.
Furthermore, participants are encouraged to wear custom-made bras decorated in the theme of this year’s event, which is ‘Roaring Twenties’. Jonty said: “Thousands will be taking part and all will be wearing gorgeous bras decorated with lots of feathers, fringes and pearls!
“That includes the men as well as the ladies. I’ve already been to Debenhams and chosen my bra … and all I have to say about that is ‘poor shopping assistant’! I’m going to be wearing a dark one with tassels, which is a sentence I never thought I’d say.”
Jonty was born in the UK and first arrived in Bahrain for a holiday in July 1972 aged 13. His father, Tony, had just joined, the then, national carrier of the Gulf, ‘Gulf Aviation’ the predecessor to Gulf Air, as a pilot flying Fokker Friendships (F27) then VC10’s, and ultimately the ‘5 Star’ Tristar L1011.
A senior wealth manager today for the Julius Baer Group, Jonty is married to Eibhlin, who is also taking part in the event, and the couple have two children, Cian and Dearbhla, both of whom were born and raised in Bahrain.
The Desert Divas are a team of people who have lived or still live in Bahrain. Some of the team have been involved in previous Moonwalks, others are taking on the challenge for the first time, but all are united with personal reasons for supporting this cause and having motivation.
Member Dione Williams has revealed that the training regime has been far from easy. She explained: “Preparation for the marathon has been ongoing for the past four months; seeing us increasing the mileage by 10 per cent each week. Our last big walk was 32km at the end of a training week that saw us clock more than 60km in total.
“It’s been gruelling and even more so as the hot and humid conditions in Bahrain get even worse. Luckily, that’s not a problem we’re expecting to face in London!
“Together, we feel very strongly that breast cancer is a real and present danger to women from all backgrounds and the Moonwalk provides a creative and fun way to highlight the importance of fundraising for breast cancer and attracting attention to the need for ongoing research.
“Many of us have been involved in supporting the wonderful work of Think Pink Bahrain, and with links to the UK the Moonwalk provides a great forum to contribute to the worldwide efforts in promoting breast cancer research, which has a ripple effect around the world.
“The fundraising has gone brilliantly so far, with great support from friends, colleagues and family - we have more than doubled our target!”
For more details visit www.moonwalklondon2017.everydayhero.com/uk/eibhlin
