TWO supermarket workers from the Borders are preparing to walk a marathon in the dark.

And every step they take of this year's Moonwalk in Edinburgh will be in memory of a friend who should have been with them.

Esther Murdoch and Haydee Lofthouse both work at the Galashiels branch of Asda.

And they'd been talked into taking part in the breast cancer charity fundraiser by colleague Diana Davy, who'd completed the capital marathon the previous year.

But Diana died suddenly earlier this year.

Esther told us: "Diana had told us how much she'd enjoyed taking part in the Moonwalk and we were going to all do it together this year.

"It was a terrible shock when Diana died, but we decided we would still do the walk in her memory."

Organised by grant-making breast cancer charity Walk the Walk, MoonWalk Scotland will see thousands of women, men and young people power walking either a quarter, half, full or double marathon through the streets of Edinburgh at midnight on June 9 to raise money and awareness to help fight the disease.

Both 37-year-old Esther and 39-year-old Haydee, who lives in Melrose, have been training since the turn of the year and feel confident of completing the full 26.2 miles.

Esther added: "We are both reasonably fit and have been doing a lot of walking to get ready for the Moonwalk.

"We are raising funds for the charity and plan to do a bag-pack as well as hold a cake and candy sale nearer the time to raise as much as we can."

This year's Moonwalk Scotland was launched last Wednesday with both Esther and Haydee joining ladies from across the country at Holyrood.

Since the event started in 1996, more than 80,000 walkers have taken part, and so far, more than £20.5 million has been raised to improve the lives of those living with cancer in Scotland.

Setting off from Holyrood Park at midnight on June 9 walkers can take on one of four challenges at The MoonWalk Scotland; The New Moon (6.55 miles, open to people aged 10 and over), Half Moon (13.1 miles), Full Moon (26.2 miles) or Over The Moon (52.4 miles).

Moon walker Ann Harkins, from Newport-On-Tay, was also at the launch.

She said: "I did the very first MoonWalk Scotland in 1996 as a way of getting fit, but I got addicted and have done every single one since!

"I am a nurse who used to work with patients with breast cancer, so it is something that is very close to me.

"Walking clears your head and improves your fitness - the MoonWalk is a great night for a very important cause."