DANCING to a disco beat will help a charity-minded Inverkip couple raise money in a marathon trek.

Irene and Graham McIntosh are taking on the virtual MoonWalk Scotland, organised by the Walk the Walk breast cancer charity, on Saturday June 12.

The kind-hearted couple have decided on their own 'full moon' route and will cover 26.2 miles by walking between two Maggie's cancer care centres - from Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow all the way to Forth Royal Hospital in Larbert, near Falkirk.

As this year's MoonWalk theme is disco, the pair will be dressed up in their best 70s gear for the challenge.

Irene, 63, has been involved in MoonWalk Scotland since 2006 and this will be her 12th walk for the charity.

Graham, 66, joined Irene on the walks in 2012 - the same year that Irene's sister Helen, and Graham's male friend and work colleague were diagnosed with breast cancer.

Helen is now doing well but Graham's friend sadly passed away.

Irene says when the going gets tough on the walks, she and Graham focus on the challenges faced by people living with breast cancer.

She said: "It was totally out of the blue for Helen.

"When it gets difficult in the last few miles and you get tired, Graham always says to me 'people who have breast cancer don't have it easy, we don't deserve to have it easy either'.

"The year Helen was diagnosed, when I got tired towards the end I just kept seeing her face and it pushed me on.

"It's a real test of endurance."

Graham says it's vital that men remember they can be affected by breast cancer too.

He added: "Men tend not to think about it at all.

"There are fewer cases in men, but the fatalities can be higher as they don't ever think that they could have breast cancer.

"If you're worried about something, please go and get it checked out."

MoonWalk Scotland usually takes the form of a trek around Edinburgh starting at midnight.

Due to coronavirus regulations, that style of event won't be possible this year.

Instead, people are being encouraged to set out on their own journeys.

Irene and Graham took on MoonWalk London together in 2018 and did the Scottish event just a month later.

They've raised around £15,000 over the last 12 years - and want to keep bringing in the money for the charity.

The couple have been training by walking along the Forth and Clyde canal and despite the changes in the format of the event, the couple are raring to boogie on down on their wander.

Irene added: "We won't have the crowds and all the atmosphere with the thousands of people around us but we're still really excited about it.

"This is the first time there's ever been a daytime event.

"Charities are really losing out on fundraising this year so we want to do all we can."

To make a donation to the couple's appeal visit https://walkthewalk.enthuse.com/pf/boobie-wanderland