Colleagues at an Aberdeenshire veterinary practice are embarking on a gruelling two-day hike in support of a suicide awareness charity close to their hearts.
A team from Donview Veterinary Centre will be walking 30km over difficult terrain in support of The Canmore Trust which was set up in memory of fellow vet and friend, Cameron Gibson.
Cameron was a 24-year-old farm vet at Clyde Vets in Lanark who died by suicide in October 2019. His parents Isobel and John Gibson and siblings Malcolm and Eilidh set up The Canmore Trust – an anagram of Cameron – with the aim of preventing more suicides and supporting those affected when someone dies by suicide.
Vets and veterinary nurses from the practice in Inverurie hope to raise public awareness of the mental health pressures facing the profession and the support available to anyone affected.
Suicide rates within the veterinary community are currently three to four times higher than the general population, while the number of people struggling with issues like depression and anxiety is also disproportionately high.
The challenge will see the Donview Vets group walk across Jock’s Road to Braemar in Aberdeenshire on Saturday 10th June, covering 16km on the first day and 15km on the return leg after a night of wild camping.
The route will take in the summits of two Munros, Mayar (928m) and Driesh (947m), and the hikers will each have to carry their essentials such as tents, sleeping bags, waterproofs and food.
Lindsey Crichton, a nurse at Donview Vets, based at Blackhall Industrial Estate, said: “The Canmore Trust charity is close to our hearts as it was set up in memory of one of our vet friends, Cameron, who died in 2019.
“We want to create more awareness of the issues veterinary teams face and a better understanding of the work they do behind the scenes and the pressures they are under, which have become more noticeable since Covid hit.”
Vets Mhairi Lawson, James Alcorn and Daniel Parsons who are all experienced walkers will lead the team, which also includes Lindsey, Callan Barratt-Gibson, Katie James, Emma Wyness, Nicole Podmore, Cari Prysor, Bronagh Goodlad and Sally Kirkpatrick.
The team will be wearing charity t-shirts from The Canmore Trust on the day, and members have already attracted sponsorship support from clients, friends and family.
To sponsor the team, visit their fundraising page here: http://bitly.ws/EgqL
You can learn more about The Canmore Trust here: https://www.thecanmoretrust.co.uk/
Vetlife Helpline is available 24 hours a day for everyone in the veterinary community for confidential, independent and free support on 0303 040 2551.
Article by Nadia Jefferson-Brown, VetPartners PR and Communications Manager (North). Contact: nadia.jeffersonbrown@vetpartners.co.uk