Teams from Blackadders LLP spent a weekend walking, running and covered in mud to raise funds for the firm’s charity of the year CHAS – Children’s Hospices Across Scotland.
Teams took part in the Aberdeen Kiltwalk on 7th June and the Tough Mudder in Edinburgh on 6th June to raise much-needed funds for CHAS.
Partner Gillian Donald, who is a Trustee of CHAS, joined eight colleagues on the Aberdeen Kiltwalk, walking 18 miles from her hometown of Banchory to Duthie Park in Aberdeen.
She said: “It really was a super day, and I am so proud of our team. We stuck together as a group the whole time, laughing lots along the way. We were very lucky it stayed dry throughout, but the last two miles were a real slog for us all and leg pains and blisters caused a few challenges. However, we pushed through and crossed the finish line together.”
Left to right, Declan Tolmie, Jessica Walker, Andrew Yule, Cameron Dickson.
Gillian and her family received invaluable support from the Aberdeen CHAS team in caring for her son Fin who had a very rare, degenerative, life-shortening illness. He passed away aged 11 in 2020.
Joining Gillian in the Aberdeen team were Partners Claire Ogston and Leanne Hill and Trainees Ben Harvey, Cory Glancy, Megan Allan, Aaron Arnott, Clara Campbell and Amy Richardson.
The team has raised almost £2,000 so far and Gillian will be doing a skydive for CHAS later this year.
In Edinburgh, Director Andrew Yule, Solicitor Cameron Dickson, Trainees Jessica Walker and Declan Tolmie, took part in the Tough Mudder event at Hopetoun Estate in South Queensferry. The team has raised £1500 so far.
Cameron said: “The event pushed each of our comfort levels. Whether that was a fear of heights, a test of strength and endurance, bearing freezing cold water, or rolling in mud (or potentially a bit of all of them), we had to work as a team to encourage and, quite literally, push each other through. It was a real team effort and the donations and response from the firm has been brilliant.”
Emma Gray, Joint Managing Partner, said: “The team has really taken CHAS to their hearts and tackled these challenges with huge enthusiasm. Right across the firm, everyone has been inspired to raise as much as they can for a truly wonderful cause.”
Emma herself will be joining Laura McDowall, Head of Private Client, and Nicola Burns, Director of Operations, in tackling incredible Discovery Mast Climb in support of CHAS in Dundee on 13th June. They will be scaling the iconic masts of RRS Discovery and then abseiling back to the dock.
In recent years, Blackadders has adopted a more co-ordinated approach to charitable fundraising. In 2025, the firm donated £34,000 to Maggie’s Centres across Scotland after a year of fundraising for the cancer support network. Teams from every office took part in a series of events and challenges to raise around £24,000. The firm boosted the fundraising efforts by employees with an extra donation of £10,000. In 2024, the Sistema Big Noise project benefitted from £16,000 from firm fundraising.
CHAS supports siblings, parents, carers, other family members and significant people in the lives of children with life-shortening conditions. They help to create lasting memories and manage medical needs.