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Video: Girls Aloud star visits Leeds for charity High-Heel-A-Thon
It was glamour, glitz and Girls Aloud and proud as hundred of fundraisers tottered around Leeds for in an High-Heel-A-Thon.
Pop star Kimberley Walsh - one fifth of the country's most famous girlband - was the star attraction as she launched and led the stiletto-themed stroll around the city.
And it wasn't just the ladies who pulled on the strappy sandals and skyscarper heels for the 10,000 fundraiser in aid of the Breast Cancer Haven charity.
Dozens of men also braved the busy roads of the city centre and occasional cobbled walkway, dressed in a variety of colourful - and painful - footwear.
The prize for highest heels - and sorest feet - went to transvestite Susan Platt, aka Ian, a lifelong fan of stilettos, whose wife Lisa is a breast cancer nurse at Leeds General Infirmary.
Brave Susan managed to RUN around part of the course in a pair of 20cm red stilettos - however had to replace them half way round when the first pair broke!
West Yorkshire-born singer Kimberley is an ambassador for Breast Cancer Haven , which has three centres nationwide offering free support, counselling, information and complementary therapies to anyone affected by breast cancer.
The star opened the centre last year after her friend and dancer teacher Deana Morgan was diagnosed with the illness.
She said: "I'm absolutely delighted that the High Heel A Thon was my first duty as Breast Cancer Haven ambassador.
"I think this is a fantastic event and as a local Yorkshire girl I am so excited to be part of it.
"My heels were at the ready and I kept them on for the whole race!"
Kimberly added: "I want people with breast cancer to know they can turn to the Haven for free help and support.
"It's quite exciting to see some many high heels and people dressed up and ready to walk.
" I just wanted to see if I could do something o help and raise awareness that its out there and people can get free treatment and utilise what w have got."
About 200 people joined the glamorous stroll around the city centre on Sunday, many of them dressed in pink, the charity's colours, and others in colourful dresses and even tuxedos.
Highest-heels winner Susan said: "That was a nice little early morning run!
"The secret is 30 years of being a transvestite.
"I've been wearing stilettos for 40 years, these are 10 inches, the highest I have worn.
"It's a great event and I am pleased to support it."
Wife Lisa joked: "I am so proud but I could'nt wear them - I wore trainers today!"
Since it opened last October, Breast Cancer Haven, based at Leeds' Gateway complex, has welcomed 450 visitors.
Yesterday's High Heel A Thon was the first ever in the UK, inspired by an annual stiletto race in New York. The leeds event was a fun walk, not a race.
Jane King, Yorkshire Fundraising Executive for Breast Cancer Haven, said: ""High heels are great - they just make you feel great about yourself.
"We just asked people to wear their high heels across the start and finish lines, to dress up and walk 1.24 miles around Leeds.
"We actually had about 15 men taking part - they loved the excuse to dress up!
"It was fabulous , a great effort. People put so much effort in and we are so glad they supported us."
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Weather for Leeds
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
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