Thousands of participants took part in the Aberdeen Kiltwalk this weekend, highlighting the continued strength of community engagement, charitable fundraising and wellbeing-led activity across the North-east.
Among those involved was Marius Coste, Facilities Management Leader at Elior UK and founder of the Miles of Smiles community initiative, who joined the event alongside Don the Bull, the official mascot of Sport Aberdeen, as part of an ongoing partnership between the two organisations.
The appearance formed part of a wider collaboration focused on promoting health, wellbeing and social connection through movement and community participation.
This year’s Kiltwalk also coincided with a key milestone for the Miles of Smiles initiative, marking Week 52 of an 82-week programme that has engaged communities across Scotland through consistent walking and running activity designed to encourage positive mental wellbeing and active lifestyles.
The initiative aligns with broader priorities across the public and private sectors to improve wellbeing, strengthen community ties and promote preventative health approaches through accessible physical activity.
Marius commented that the Kiltwalk demonstrated the impact of collective community action: “The Kiltwalk brings together people, organisations and volunteers around a shared purpose. The scale of participation shows the value of community-led events in supporting wellbeing and charitable causes across the region.”
The collaboration between Sport Aberdeen and Miles of Smiles reflects a shared commitment to encouraging healthier, more connected communities through accessible movement-based initiatives.
As organisations across the region continue to prioritise employee wellbeing and community engagement, partnerships of this nature demonstrate the value of cross-sector collaboration in delivering meaningful social impact.
One year into the 82-week Miles of Smiles journey, the initiative continues to focus on a consistent message: improving wellbeing and connection through movement, one step at a time.