Following his success at the recent Scottish National Open Water Championships, at which he won the Men’s Open 10k race, Mark (21) who was born in Paisley, visited Mearns Primary School, Howwood Primary School and Uplawmoor Primary School, offering local children a glimpse into the life of an athlete.

As part of the exclusive visits, facilitated by local family housebuilder Mactaggart & Mickel Group, Mark spent an hour with the children showing them the discipline and dedication that it takes to be a top athlete, and highlighting the rewards of hard work.

As a two-time Scottish open water champion at 2km, 5km and 10km distances, and the first ever winner of the 420m Red Bull Neptune Steps race, Mark is one of Scotland’s leading open water swimmers.

Sponsored by Mactaggart & Mickel Group, Mark visited schools with ties to some of the luxury housebuilder’s developments. The award-winning company has a strong presence throughout Glasgow and the West, and has further shown its commitment to building local communities through a series of sponsorships, donations and projects. 

Mark Deans commented: “I can’t begin to explain how much I’ve enjoyed these school visits; being able to engage with the children one-on-one was fantastic! I really hope I’ve inspired them to follow their dreams, whether that is in sport or another discipline.

“I feel so honoured to have the support of such a respected company like Mactaggart & Mickel Group. I’d like to thank them for making these visits possible.”

Commenting on Mark’s efforts, Ed Monaghan, chief executive at Mactaggart & Mickel Group, added: “It’s a privilege to support such a committed and talented swimmer like Mark, he’s not just a fantastic role model for aspiring athletes but for all young people his age.

“We have always been committed to working closely with the communities surrounding our developments, from being as considerate as possible during construction to supporting local charities and groups – it’s at the heart of what we do. I hope the children enjoyed the visits and can learn from Mark’s success.”

Mactaggart & Mickel Group has a long history of supporting young talent; from local teams, schools and groups, to its sponsorship of Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games’ hopeful swimmer Jordan Hughes. The company also recently announced its sponsorship of one of the UK’s leading Paralympic swimmers, Andrew Mullen, who is representing Great Britain at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

For more information on Mactaggart & Mickel Group please visit www.macmicgroup.co.uk.