Walking with purpose: the final stride of JC’s Kiltwalk 2025
The final Kiltwalk of the year is just around the corner and our team of Chartered Akiltants are undergoing their final preparations ahead of the big day.
On Sunday 14 September, our JC walkers will take part in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk, from Holyrood Park, around the Capital, before finishing up at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium.
Every member of Team JC has their own reasons for taking part and raising valuable funds for charities. We caught up with three of our walkers, ahead of this weekend, on what their motivations were for signing up this year.
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Amy Skeoch, Audit Assistant, Edinburgh
"Just over a year ago, I nearly lost my dad to a stroke. I was on FaceTime with my mum when she told me something wasn’t right, and as soon as my dad appeared on screen, his speech was so slurred I couldn’t understand a word. I begged him to go to the hospital, but he’s the most stubborn man I know and tried to sleep it off. The next morning, my mum finally managed to get him to A&E, where we found out he’d had two strokes caused by blood clots on both sides of his brain. Being so far from home and unable to get to him immediately was heartbreaking and seeing him in hospital, unable to speak, stand, or eat, was one of the hardest moments of my life.
His recovery has been slow and challenging, but he’s come a long way. He can now hold a conversation and keeps himself busy, although memory loss and dizziness are daily struggles. We try to stay light-hearted as a family, but last July was the most terrified I’ve ever been. Sadly, not every family is as lucky. That’s why I’m taking part in this year’s Kiltwalk, raising money for Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland, a charity that helps people live well with life-altering conditions. I’m walking for them, and for my dad, my auntie, and everyone else affected by strokes and heart conditions."
Mo Yaqub, Audit Supervisor, Glasgow
"On September 14, I’ll be walking in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk to raise money for Lymphoma Action, a charity that offers vital support to those affected by lymphoma, the most common form of blood cancer. This cause is incredibly close to my heart. My auntie is currently battling lymphoma for the third time, having already overcome cancer twice before. Her strength is nothing short of extraordinary, surviving a 1% prognosis, multiple surgeries, and severe complications, all while continuing to lift others up with her positivity.
I’m also walking for a close family friend who, at just 39 years old, is currently undergoing treatment for a rare and aggressive cancer called Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma. Watching both incredible women fight with such resilience has shown me how deeply cancer affects not only individuals but their entire families. That’s why I’m supporting Lymphoma Action and their work in providing information, emotional support, and hope."
Scott Dunbar, Business Advisory Partner, Elgin
"I’ve taken on the challenge of completing all four Kiltwalks in 2025, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, and the final one still to come in Edinburgh on Sunday. What started as a rush of adrenaline during a presentation quickly turned into a real commitment, and with Johnston Carmichael being long-time gold sponsors of the Kiltwalk, it felt like the perfect challenge to take on. I’ve already walked over 60 miles, and while it’s definitely been tough, it’s also been incredibly rewarding.
I’m walking in support of Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation, a fantastic charity that supports children with cancer and their families across Scotland. The work they do is truly inspiring.
As I embarked on this journey, I knew that there would be a bit of personal satisfaction in doing something positive for a charity that helps so many, but I underestimated the power of that satisfaction, and this has driven me on to make this impact as large as I possibly can in 2025."
Kiltwalk 2025
Amy, Mo, and Scott will take part in Sunday’s walk along with 60 colleagues from across the UK. Kiltwalk is one of the UK’s biggest mass participation charity events and Johnston Carmichael has been a gold sponsor for almost 10 years, as part of our commitment to the communities in which we live and work.
Follow us on Instagram for live updates from Sunday’s walk, and on LinkedIn and Facebook to see the photos from the day afterwards.