Mum stepping out to help armed forces family with Poppyscotland
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Contestants are putting on their dancing shoes and dusting off their sequins as Come Dancing with Poppyscotland cha-chas back to Inverness.
The glittering charity fundraiser, in association with local dance school Toe 2 Toe Dance, will return on March 17-18 to the Kingsmills Hotel.
Now in its fifth year, the charity’s take on Strictly Come Dancing pairs novice dancers with experienced partners as the largest event of its kind in the north of Scotland, and organisers are hoping to beat last year’s total of more than £32,000 raised to support the armed forces community.
Nine couples are preparing to dance it off for the prestigious Glitterball trophy.
While the finale promises to be a glamourous night out, it will also bring back bittersweet memories for some of the contestants, who were inspired to dance in memory of loved ones. Novice dancer Kim Brown (47) from Nairn, chose to take part in tribute to her father and brothers-in-law. The daughter of a Royal Navy veteran, she remembers her dad struggling after returning from the Falklands conflict.
Her brother-in-law, Paul, lost his life serving in Northern Ireland, aged just 21, and her other brothers-in-law have also served in the army and navy.
Kim, a counsellor and mother-of-four, is keen to support other Armed Forces families and has thrown herself into fundraising ahead of the competition. She has already raised more than £8200 through events including quizzes and comedy nights.She said: “My family has a strong military connection, so when I heard Poppyscotland was doing this event, I jumped at the chance.
“My father was in the Royal Navy, and he found it difficult coming to terms with his experiences in the Falklands. At the time he never spoke about it, and there was much less awareness of PTSD. It was only after I grew up and left home that I could start to understand what he’d been through.
“Losing Paul absolutely blew apart my husband’s family. He had come home from Northern Ireland for the birth of his daughter, then he was killed a few weeks later. My husband was devastated as he adored his little brother. I don’t think his mother ever got over it.
“It takes a really special kind of person to go into the armed forces, and I think they carry their service with them for the rest of their lives. It’s an honour for me to do my bit to help them. When I’ve felt nervous about my dance moves, I just think about what they’ve been through and pull my socks up!
“I had never done any ballroom dancing before, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of the journey. My dance partner Eileen has been fabulous and so supportive, and Tristan, our instructor has been so patient and encouraging.
"It’s been really full on and that has certainly brought us close together. I know my father is very proud of me for taking part as well.”
Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s head of fundraising, said: “Come Dancing is always one of our most hotly anticipated events and this year’s promises to be bigger and better than ever. The dancers have shown incredible dedication and enthusiasm over the past months, and it’s sure to be a fantastic night out.
“Every penny raised will go towards our life-changing welfare work with Scotland’s Armed Forces community. We are seeing increasing demand for support due to the cost-of-living crisis, and we want to be there for every veteran and their family who needs us.
“We’re very grateful once again to the wonderful instructors at Toe 2 Toe Dance for their passion and tireless support. There’s still time to grab your tickets, so why not waltz on down and watch them dance the night away for a great cause?”
For more information and to buy tickets see here
