A GROUP of Oxford midwives are hoping a daring midnight marathon will help raise money for a breast cancer charity.

Six midwives from the Women’s Centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital, will each don a sparkly bra and brave the night-time elements as they walk 26 miles through the streets of London next month.

Katherine Edwards, Penny Green, Nicola Higgins, Linda Holden, Hazel Meacher and Libby Searle will join about 15,000 women in the London Moonwalk 2011.

The annual event, organised by charity Walk the Walk, raises money for breast cancer causes.

Walkers can choose to tread a route of 13 miles or 26 miles with just one catch – all in their bras.

Ms Searle, 52, said she came up with the idea to walk the walk, but did not expect anyone to join her.

She said: “I have a friend who is suffering with breast cancer at the moment.

“She has had chemotherapy and radiotherapy but it has been an awful experience.

“By coincidence, the other women who are joining me on the walk also all know someone who has been or who is currently suffering with breast cancer.

“We all wanted to do something to raise awareness and help.”

This years event takes the theme ‘Walk on the Wild side’.

To celebrate the women, aged 33 to 52, have designed an exotic feathery bra to wear and have named their group ‘Birds of a Feather.”

Ms Searle added: “We thought it was a good name because birds of feather flock together and we all intend to stick together and support each other for the whole 26 miles.

“We have been training hard.

“We had the choice of doing the 13 mile circuit or the 26 miles circuit but we chose the tougher route.

“The course is about enduring something difficult.

“When you think about what women who have to cope with breast cancer have to go through this is nothing in comparison.”

To sponsor the women go to walkthewalkfundraising.org/birds_of_a_feather.