Aberdeen’s lunchtime crowd was treated to a burst of joy this week as a giant Minion took over the city centre — all in the name of charity and community spirit!
Behind the costume was Marius Coste, a facilities management professional with Elior UK, who’s become a familiar face across the city thanks to his Miles of Smiles Challenge — a year-and-a-half-long campaign combining running, cycling and walking, along with cold-water dips, to raise awareness and funds for mental health and cancer support.
The response on the streets was electric — waves, cheers, and car horns echoed across Aberdeen as the “Giant Minion” spread laughter and positivity from one end of town to the other.
Since launching the challenge in June 2025, Marius has already:
- Covered 1,235 km across Scotland
- Raised £1,455 for SAMH (plus £7,000 since 2021)
- Raised £907 for Clan Cancer Support
- Completed 111 cold showers and 26 cold dips
“Sometimes the biggest smiles come from the silliest costumes,” says Marius. “If one person laughs or feels inspired to talk about their mental health — it’s all worth it.”
You can follow his journey and see where the Giant Minion might appear next:
- Facebook/LinkedIn: Marius Coste
- X (Twitter): @SmilesRunner
- Instagram: @milesofsmilesrun
- TikTok: @smilesrunner
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Aberdeen once again proves why it’s Scotland’s happiest city — one smile (and one giant banana run) at a time!