Barrhead salon team inspired by tragedy to take on Kiltwalk

When Brian MacMillan sets out on this weekend’s Kiltwalk to raise money for charity, he will be marking what would have been his husband Kevin Finnell’s 60th birthday.

An award-winning hairdresser at the peak of his craft, Kevin had a cardiac arrest in bed on February 8, 2022, and despite the best efforts of Brian and paramedics, he passed away six days later on Valentine’s Day, leaving friends, family and colleagues shocked.

For Brian, recovering from the loss and trauma has been a slow process but walking the 20-plus miles from Glasgow to Loch Lomond, with staff from F&M Hairdressing, is a positive way to celebrate fun-loving Kevin.

Kevin was the face of the Barrhead-based salon, and Brian managed the business, but the loyal staff had to rally to help him carry on in the face of his grief.

“The team took care of the shop, they did an amazing job, so I could take some time off to come to terms with things,” said Brian.

“They decided that this Kiltwalk, which is the day after Kevin’s birthday, would be an excellent way to celebrate and remember him.”

Heart and circulatory diseases cause around 50 deaths each day in Scotland and across the country an estimated 700,000 people are living with the daily burden of these conditions.

Kevin was 57 when he passed away – 10 years older than Brian – but he was very fit and on his feet for most of the day.

Brian explained: “He was unaware that there was anything wrong until that night when he went to bed early and said he wasn’t feeling that great.

“That was the only pre-warning we had. I went up a short time later and was reading my book as Kevin was sleeping next to me.

“Suddenly he just let out this sound, I thought initially he was snoring, and went to turn round but when I saw him, I realised straight away something wasn’t right.”

Unable to wake him, Brian called 999 and was instructed to lift Kevin onto the floor to give him CPR until paramedics arrived.

Although his heart did restart, and he was transferred to hospital where he had an operation to unblock one of the arteries in his heart, Kevin never regained consciousness and after five days Brian had to make the heartbreaking decision to take Kevin off life support.

He said: “My life was devastated. Kevin was my husband and my business partner. We did everything together. He was the life and soul of the party and I wasn’t quite sure how I’d get through. I wouldn’t have if it hadn’t been for my friends, family and colleagues.”

Hundreds of people will be taking part in the Kiltwalk for the British Heart Foundation this weekend – helping to raise vital funds.

April Davidson, area fundraising manager, BHF Scotland, said: “We are so grateful to Brian and his team, and we will be cheering them and all our #TEAMBHF kiltwalkers on right through the year.

“It’s thanks to their amazing efforts that we can continue to fund lifesaving research to help us find the breakthroughs, treatments and cures of the future and turn research that once seemed like science fiction into reality.

“Best of luck to everyone taking part!” You can support Brian and his team by donating here: https://bit.ly/44dLNVQ

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