Raffle Raises over £7000 for Mikeysline in Memory of Local Highland Man

An extraordinary fundraising effort in honour of an Easter Ross man has raised over £7000 for local mental health and suicide prevention charity, Mikeysline.

 The Altrad Coatings team based in Somerset raised £7,920 for Mikeysline in memory of Aidan Cross from Evanton, whose sudden loss last year deeply affected many of the company’s Highland employees.

The initiative was spearheaded by Operations Delivery Manager, Willie Latimer, who not only secured an impressive range of prizes including a £3,000 electric bike, but also donated items from his own sports memorabilia collection – including highly sought‑after signed shirts from Pelé, Diego Maradona and Mohamed Salah.

Willie said: “Several of our team members in the North had personal connections to Aidan, and his absence remains deeply felt among them. I wanted to give something back to a cause close to home for many of the workforce, and by choosing to support Mikeysline, we’re not just raising vital funds but reinforcing the message on site that “it’s OK not to be OK.”

To mark the achievement, Willie was joined by colleagues Allan Docherty and Bruce Murdoch, who travelled from Somerset to Inverness to personally deliver the funds to Mikeysline. During their visit, they stayed at an Airbnb on Hawthorn Drive where, after learning about the team’s extraordinary fundraising effort, the property owners kindly gifted them their stay as a gesture of support.

Emily Stokes, CEO of Mikeysline, said:

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone at the Altrad Coatings Team for their outstanding commitment, generosity and compassion. Raising awareness and starting open conversations about mental health in the workplace is vital, and this team has truly gone above and beyond. Their support, given in memory of someone known to many of them, will make a real difference to people across the Highlands who need someone to listen and help to ensure that no one must face their darkest moments alone.”

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Pictures: Aidan Cross (image supplied by family), Cheque presentation (L-R) Allan Docherty, Emily Stokes (Mikesyline CEO), Bruce Murdoch, Willie Latimer and Donna Brady (Mikeysline Events & Fundraising Co-ordinator), Raffle football shirts.

Mikeysline: Mikeysline operates 365 days a year, accessible through their text line at 07786207755; WhatsApp at 01463 729000, messenger and via its website and live chat. They offer face-to-face support in Hives across the region – at their Inverness headquarters, and in their Dingwall Alness, Nairn, Tain, Wick, Thurso and Elgin hubs. Here, people can engage in one-to-one support, or at some venues join in group sessions for adults, men, families and young people.

The Mikeysline mobile app: Along with their latest news, events and ways to get involved, the app makes it even easier for those in need of help to reach out for support.

Links to download our App: Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thecafeapp.mikeysline&pcampaignid=web_share iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/mikeysline/id6736364818

The charity also produces a popular podcast, Speaking of Suicide; provides support for businesses; works closely with teachers and pupils in schools across the North of Scotland.

For more information, visit www.mikeysline.co.uk or find Mikeysline on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Hive on the Road: Launched in 2024, Mikeysline’s Hive on the Road enables support staff to provide accessible 1:1 support sessions in the more rural areas of the Highlands, Islands and Moray. The initiative was made possible by a generous grant from The Wolfsen Foundation which allowed Mikeysline to purchase its first transit van and enlist Vulcan Van Conversations to make modifications. Additional grants from McDonalds in the Community and West Fraser also supported

the development and ongoing costs of the project. In 2025, West Fraser remain our key sponsor partner for our original Hive on the Road. Our second Hive on the Road, launched in 2025 is funded by the Royal Foundation.