East Ayrshire Man Ready to Brave the Bridge for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland  

A Newmilns man will take part in an adrenaline-fuelled fundraiser to support Scotland’s largest health charity. 

Malcolm McNinch, 65, will be one of hundreds of brave daredevils to abseil 165 feet down the UNESCO World Heritage Site on Sunday, 28th September to support Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS).  

Malcolm, who is retired, said: “I’m pretty excited about it as it gets closer, especially as it’s off the Forth Bridge. There’s not many people who get to do that.” 

For Malcolm, he’s taking part to raise funds for CHSS after the support he received following a heart valve replacement in September 2022. 

The 65-year-old has found the support of Killie Heartmates, a Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland-affiliated peer support group that he attends, vital in his recovery. Last year Malcolm took part in the Zip Slide the Clyde to raise money for CHSS. 

He said: “I had my heart valve replaced and they performed a bypass on one of my arteries. 

“I still meet with the Killie Heartmates, I’m still a part of their group, they’re brilliant and very supportive. I enjoyed fundraising for CHSS last year with the Zip Slide but I wanted to try and do something different this year and raise more money than last year.” 

Killie Heartmates is a Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) affiliated peer support group and exercise class for individuals with heart disease and their partners, based in Kilmarnock. The group provides exercise classes, social activities, and mutual support to help members with their cardiac rehabilitation and to reduce the risk of further heart problems. 

To support Malcolm’s fundraiser please go to www.justgiving.com/page/malcolm-mcninch-2. 

If you’re inspired to take part in the abseil yourself this year you can sign up at https://www.abseil.scot.  

To find out more about Killie Heartmates please go to www.chss.org.uk/group/killie-heartmates. 

Stephanie Wilks, Community, Events and Corporate Fundraiser for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland said: “We thank Malcolm for his participation in the 2025 Forth Bridge Abseil and wish him all the best in his fundraising and on the day and for his continued support of CHSS.   

“Every pound raised through fundraising helps CHSS to support the one in five people in Scotland who are living with chest, heart and stroke conditions and Long Covid to live life to the full.   

“It helps us to provide advice and support through our free Advice Line service, stroke nurses, online health information, support groups, supported self management courses and much more.”   

ENDS   

If you’re living with the effects of a chest, heart or stroke condition or Long Covid and are looking for advice and information, please contact Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0899. You can also text ADVICE to 66777 or email adviceline@chss.org.uk.