Aberdeen-based creative marketing agency Mearns & Gill is lacing up their walking shoes and embracing the spirit of community as they prepare to take on the Aberdeen Kiltwalk 2025, which will take place on Sunday, 1st June.
The team will walk an impressive 18 miles, proudly calling themselves Team Cirque De Sare Legs!, as they unite for a cause close to their hearts: installing a public access defibrillator outside their Carden Place office, available for use by the local community.
The initiative is being run in support of St John Scotland, a charity dedicated to saving lives through increased access to defibrillators and life-saving training. With a fundraising target of £1,000, Mearns & Gill hopes to not only meet but exceed this goal in a bid to contribute to a safer, more prepared Aberdeen.
“As a business deeply rooted in the Aberdeen community, we feel a strong sense of responsibility to give back in ways that have a real and lasting impact,” said Mike Wilson, managing director at Mearns & Gill. “The Kiltwalk is an amazing opportunity to do something both fun and challenging as a team, while raising money for a piece of equipment that could be the difference between life and death during a cardiac emergency.”
In Scotland, approximately 70 people suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest every week. Immediate CPR is crucial, but the presence of a defibrillator in those first critical minutes can significantly increase a person's chances of survival. That’s why the installation of public access defibrillators in local communities is such an urgent and meaningful effort.
The Kiltwalk itself is one of Scotland’s most beloved charity events, bringing together people from all walks of life to support hundreds of causes. Participants don their kilts and tartan gear and walk various distances to raise funds for charities they care about. Every pound raised is topped up by The Hunter Foundation, meaning donations go even further toward making a real difference.
Team Cirque De Sare Legs! is already training and rallying support from friends, family, and clients. They are calling on the wider Aberdeen community to get behind them with words of encouragement and, where possible, donations.
To support Mearns & Gill’s mission and contribute to the life-saving defibrillator fund, donations can be made through their JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/page/mearnsandgilldefib