Men at Highland firm grow moustaches to raise £25k for suicide prevention charity in memory of popular colleague
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Men at an Inverness company have grown moustaches to raise an incredible £25,000 for a suicide prevention charity in memory of a popular colleague and friend.
About 40 men at Highland Industrial Supplies (HIS) took part in the fundraiser for Mikeysline in memory of Adam Grant who took his own life in May.
Mr Grant, who lived with his father in North Kessock, died just nine days after turning 19.
The month-long Movember, which initially aimed to raise £10,000, was organised by Ross MacLaren.
"We, at HIS, lost a family member when Adam passed," he said.
"He was a colleague, a friend and some would have classified him as a brother.
"He was a great laugh, a 'Jack-the-lad' who made us smile and was genuinely just a wonderful young man.
"After some time passed, we all wanted to do something to raise money and donate it in honour of Adam."
They had done their best to grow weird and wild moustaches with all the money going to Mikeysline.
The women at HIS have also raised money and awareness by walking 5km each week.
"We chose Mikeysline as we wanted to play our part in helping point those who need help in the right direction," Mr MacLaren added.
HIS company director Garry Mackintosh also highlighted the importance of Mikeysline.
"The work that Mikeysline does is invaluable, supporting mental health is so important, our responsibilities and compassion extend beyond our nine-to-five lives and Mikeysline is able to offer a fantastic support network, but like all charities they require help to raise vital funds and we at HIS are proud to be helping raise not only much needed funds but awareness surrounding mental health," he said.
Mikeysline service manager Emily Stokes said HIS had given tremendous support in raising awareness of Mikeysline including a sponsored banner facing the A9 since World Mental Health Day in October.
"The more we all talk about mental health, emotional distress and suicide openly, the more chance there is that people will access the support when they need it, reducing the tragic loss of lives in Highland," she said.
"We are extremely grateful for all staff at HIS for taking on this challenge in honour and memory of their friend and work colleague, Adam, and for ensuring that those wider messages go out."
Anyone wanting to support HIS’s fundraising efforts can donate in-store or via their JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/highland-industrial-supplies-movember.
