Blackadders LLP has raised more than £20,000 for the firm’s charity of the year CHAS – Children’s Hospices Across Scotland – at a gala dinner in Aberdeen.
Led by Partner Gillian Donald, who is a Trustee of CHAS, the firm doubled its fundraising target at the dinner at the Chester Hotel on Thursday 8th October thanks to the support of 170 friends, contacts and clients who attended on the night.
The evening, hosted by auctioneer and compere Alex Fleming, kicked off with singer Rhianne Armstrong and continued after dinner with the Heartland band. There were also games including pass the parcel and draws for champagne and a diamond necklace as well as silent and live auctions.
The aim was to raise both funds and awareness of CHAS which is a cause close to Gillian’s heart. 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.
Nurse Louise Esson, CHAS Diana Children’s Nurse based in Grampian who supported Fin and his family at the end of his life, also joined guests at the dinner. Gillian and Louise did a fireside chat to explain about children’s palliative care and how young people with life shortening illnesses are supported in living well and, when the time is certain, helped to die gently. A short film of Fin enjoying the last few months of his life at home was also played, demonstrating that the focus was on life, and being happy in that short life, rather than on death.
Picture shows the Blackadders’ team who organised the dinner with Gillian Donald on the left.
Rami Okasha, CEO of CHAS, also spoke about the incredibly important work carried out by CHAS in Grampian and across Scotland.
Gillian said: “It was an amazing night. We’re so grateful to everyone who came along and supported us. The generosity was wonderful and will make a huge difference to CHAS.
“It is an important cause and Louise and Rami spoke passionately about the work they do and everyone in the room was moved by what they heard.”
So far this year, Blackadders colleagues have taken part in Kiltwalks in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee. Teams also took on the Tough Mudder in Edinburgh in June and Gillian herself did a skydive to raise much-needed funds.
Emma Gray, Joint Managing Partner, who took part in the incredible Discovery Mast Climb in support of CHAS in Dundee, said: “We couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who came along to support Gillian and the team at the dinner. So much effort has gone into all the fundraising activities this year and the dinner was a great event to boost our total so far.”
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.