6ft 10in basketball star Kieron kitted out to represent mental health charity SAMH kilt was a tall order for Brian
Olympic basketball star Kieron Achara shoots some hoops as he swaps his shorts for SAMH’s new hot pink designer kilt.
Kilt-makers Slanj were faced with a pretty tall order after offering to support the charity with a style in its colours to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.
After all, SAMH ambassador Kieron, 37, stands 6ft 10in in his size 15 trainers.
It took 24ft feet of material to do the job – the largest they could get – and, even then, it was a wee bit on the short side.
Slanj founder Brian Halley said: “It was the tallest order we have ever taken for a kilt, but Kieron carries it off well.
“And the hot pink kicking out from the grey really fits in well with SAMH’s logo.”
The kilt retails at up to £395, with 20 per cent from every sale going straight to Scotland’s national mental health charity, supporting their incredible work with thousands of adults and young people in over 60 communities.
Kieron, who lives in Paisley with wife Megan and children Braylon and Adelyn, has drawn on his own experiences to use to the power of sport to tackle the nation’s mental health crisis.
He is running for SAMH at the Stirling Scottish Marathon to raise money and awareness.
He says: “Sport is so well-placed to help deliver positive messages.
“Hopefully, others will join me on this journey.
“It may take some time – it’s a marathon not a sprint – but it will change lives.”
Brian reached out to SAMH after Slanj’s face masks for Shelter flew off the shelves when they were ‘modelled’ by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
He said: “Given all the issues surrounding mental health during the pandemic we felt it right we should be trying to do our part in supporting this vital lifeline.”
Emma Gray, partnerships fundraiser at SAMH, said the backing is helping spread their message.
She explained: “The support we receive from Kieron and Slanj is incredible.
“Not only does it help to spread awareness of the mental health cause and issues we face in
Scotland, but it also helps us to fund services to support those with poor mental health in areas such as suicide prevention, children and young people and therapeutic horticulture.
“SAMH ( Scottish Association for Mental Health) is Scotland’s largest mental health charity and we believe there is no health without mental health.
“It has represented the voice of people most affected by mental health problems in Scotland for more than 90 years.”
SAMH is dedicated to mental health and well-being for all.
Its vision is of a society where people are able to live their lives fully, regardless of present or past circumstances.
Its ethos is that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity, respect and equality.
It believes that everyone is entitled to hope and choice and to achieve personal fulfilment. Find out more at www.samh.org.uk Information on the Stirling Scottish Marathon, taking place on October 24, is at www. thestirlingmarathon. co. uk and you can sponsor Kieran at www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/kieron-achara