Mum to skydive for charity in husband's memory
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE sky’s the limit for one of this year’s Strictly Inverness contestants who is preparing to jump out of an aeroplane in order to raise money for the event.
Kerry Macdonald (39) was inspired to get involved in the charity dancing competition, which raises cash for Highland Hospice, after losing her husband James to cancer just three months after his diagnosis in 2016.
“I decided to go for it this year as the hospice is a charity that is so important to our local community and being able to help raise funds for the hospice while having fun seemed to make sense,” she said.
“Unfortunately I have known of others who have needed the care of the hospice and one thing that stands out is the exceptional care and support given to patients and relatives at their greatest time of need.
“It costs over £7000 a day for the hospice to run, so being able to help raise much-needed funds means so much.”
The Jump for James skydive will be completed by Mrs Macdonald and 12 of her and James’s closest friends and family on Saturday, March 30.
The mother-of-two hopes to raise a minimum of £6000 and has created an online crowdfunding page which has already received more than £4500 in donations.
Inspiration for the skydive came after Mrs Macdonald and a friend were discussing plans for their upcoming birthdays.
“Myself and Emma Nicol, who works for the hospice as a fundraiser, had spoken about doing a skydive together this year to mark our ‘big birthdays’ and the idea for Jump for James grew from there,” Mrs Mcdonald said.
Other more down-to-earth fundraising activities by Mrs Macdonald have included bag-packing sessions in Marks and Spencer, Tesco Metro and B&M in Inverness.
A fundraising concert will also be held in the British Legion Club in King Street, Inverness, tomorrow, with music from local band The Shire.
It will take place just days before what would have been her husband’s 40th birthday, Mrs Macdonald said: “He would have loved the celebrations of music and drinks so we shall all be raising a glass.”
She and her Strictly dance partner, Aaron Mackenzie, will then be back at the British Legion on April 5 for yet more fundraising fun with a horse racing night and Holm Primary School and nursery, where Mrs Macdonald’s sons James (7) and Drew (4) attend, has also pledged to fundraise with A Week of Dance during the last week of term before the Easter holidays.
Strictly Inverness gets under way on Thursday, May 16.
