A team of around 20 people from Johnston Carmichael’s Aberdeen office are lacing their boots to take part in this weekend’s Kiltwalk as the business aims to secure a record 100 walkers in 2022.
Johnston Carmichael has been a gold sponsor of Scotland’s favourite mass participation charity event for six years as part of its commitment to supporting the communities in which its 850 staff and partners live and work.
The business, which was founded in Elgin more than 80 years ago, has 13 offices across the UK.
With all four Kiltwalks in Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Edinburgh taking place as physical events this year for the first time following the pandemic, and a Virtual Kiltwalk Weekend taking place in October, the firm has a target of signing up 100 staff and partners to put their best foot forward for charity. Individuals can fundraise for their charity of choice, and all money raised is topped up by 50% thanks to Sir Tom Hunter and The Hunter Foundation.
Taking on the challenge in Aberdeen this Sunday May 29, is a team of walkers, including the firm’s CEO, Andrew Walker. Among the hardy souls, who are based at Johnston Carmichael’s Aberdeen office, but located across the north and North-east is Carol James, restructuring senior manager.
Carol, who lives in Inverness but reports to the Aberdeen office, is walking the 26-mile Mighty Stride for Mikeysline, a Highlands mental health charity founded in 2015 following the deaths of two friends, Martin Shaw and Michael Williamson who tragically took their lives within 48 hours of each other.
“Mikeysline was launched to provide a very simple service – offering people in need a chance to talk to someone through text messaging. Just one quick 30-second interruption can be enough to stop someone completing suicide.
“The organisation has since grown to offer a wide range of services and it has been a really successful model which is being adopted elsewhere.”
She added: “My main goal is to raise awareness of the charity and ensure that vulnerable people know that help is available. Any money I can raise to help Mikeysline keep doing a great job is a bonus.”
David Wilson, Head of Aberdeen, Johnston Carmichael, who is also taking part in the Aberdeen Kiltwalk, and raising money for SSPCA said: “I’m really proud that Johnston Carmichael is a gold sponsor of Kiltwalk and it is brilliant that we’ve got a great team from Aberdeen participating. As part of JC’s values, we talk about standing in other’s shoes and there can’t be a better example of how our business does this than our commitment to the Kiltwalk.”
To sponsor Carol please visit: https://aberdeen.thekiltwalk.co.uk/fundraising/AberdeenKiltwalk2022-CarolJames