Strictly Inverness 2024 diary: I'll do my best for Ruth
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I don't know if I'll ever know quite how much doing Strictly Inverness really means to my dance partner Ruth Mason – but I'm sure we'll do our very best to do as much as we can to honour Stuart and help Highland Hospice.
Earlier this week, my fab dance partner opened up to my reporter Val Sweeney about why she was doing the annual charity event, explaining it was in tribute to her late husband.
We made the decision that it was better for one of my reporters to do the feature interview rather than myself because Ruth had told me so much about Stuart and other things that by me stepping aside it allowed a fresh approach from a very talented journalist. It's an emotional, empathetic and powerful result.
- Click here if you would like to make a donation
- Former Highland police officer takes on Strictly Inverness in tribute to late husband
- TV star from The Traitors to attend Strictly Inverness fundraising Highland Masquerade Ball
I signed up partly because we've been involved in the event as media partner since day one and I know the hospice means a lot to so many people. I know friends, family and colleagues who have had cancer diagnoses with varying results and the help and support provided by the charity is important, often at the most emotionally challenging of times.
Being part of such a special event which raises so much money for its organisers and hosts, the hospice and Inverness Ice Centre, is humbling.
While we're all learning to dance, we're also trying to generate donations. The big fundraising event for Ruth and I will be the Highland Masquerade Ball. My wonderful colleague Louise Ross (a former Strictly Inverness contestant) has been the driving force in making this happen and yesterday's exciting announcement that hit TV show finalist Evie Morrison will be the special guest adds a new dimension. It would be awesome if you could provide a further boost by supporting the event. We're looking to sell as many tickets as possible and we're also sourcing some amazing raffle prizes, so anything you can do on either front would be incredible. If you can, please email louise.ross@hnmedia.co.uk
The fundraising is an important element of the competition because each dance couple is rewarded points in the semi-final based on their partnership's combined total.
Those are added to points earned via the individual dances. This week, our rumba moved up a notch and has the chance of being quite the spectacle on the night (although we still have a bit more of the choreographer to learn).
In contrast, we've made it to the end of our team dance so have a good idea of what we need to produce when it's showtime in May, so now we have a few sessions to smooth it all out.
While, after a week on the sidelines from samba, our training returned with an extended 90-minute session that saw us add a huge chunk of choreographer and what felt like 100 more steps. I'll admit it was hard to get to grips with there and then but after a wee bit of video study last night, I think I know them all... I just need to make sure I can pull them off in the right order when required!
Ruth and I are overwhelmed by the help and support we've had so far from friends, family and colleagues with everything from personal fundraisers aiding our efforts to ideas for bigger events.
I'm also super grateful to the Therapy Suite in Inverness (more details of a fundraising event with them will emerge later this month), Bikes of Inverness, the Forge Gym in Inverness and MKM Building Supplies in Aviemore, who are displaying posters for the Strictly Raffle and selling tickets (£1 each) on my behalf to anyone interested.
It has been so uplifting to receive such encouragement and support during the past eight weeks of fundraising. I'd imagine the same can be said for the other dancers who have generated much-needed donations too. It's been really impressive so far with the total already passing £74,500.
All the fundraising activities coming up that I'm aware of are here:
- For Andy Dixon and Ruth Mason: June Field (psychic, charity raffle at event), March 6, Craigmonie Hotel, Inverness
- For Amy Macleod and Lana Ingram: Sparkling tipsy tea party, March 9, Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness
- For Ruth Mason and Andy Dixon: Quiz night, March 12, Rose Street Foundry, Inverness
- For Stefan Robertson, A night of mediumship, March 13, Caley Club, Inverness
- For Kaitlyn Heggie, Boozy bingo, March 15, Chieftain Hotel, Inverness
- For Scott Wilson, Family Race Night, March 15, Raigmore Motel, Inverness
- For Beth Saunders, A night of mediumship, March 15, Inverness Ice Centre
- For Ruth Mason and Andy Dixon: Coffee morning, March 16, Nairn United Reformed Church
- For Ailsa Campbell: Going for Gold dinner and dance, March 16, Rose Hall, Dingwall Legion
- For Melissa Brailsford: Saint Patrick's Day drinking, March 16, Mosset Tavern, Forres
- For Reese Ross: Race night, March 16, Caley Club, Inverness
- For Amy Macleod: Race night, March 16, Lewis and Harris Rangers Supporters Club, Stornoway
- For Ryan Bell and Angela Urquhart, Abba karaoke night, March 16, Inverness Ice Centre
- For Rachel Wood: Hospice Cup charity football match, March 17, Millburn Academy all-weather pitch, Inverness
- For Kenna Ross: Soundbath, March 17, Balloch Hall
- For Beth Saunders: Beth's Blacktie Bash, March 22, Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness
- For Shireen Fyffe: Football tournament, March 23, Inverness Royal Academy all-weather pitch
- For Kenna Ross: Afternoon tea, March 23, Ness Walk Hotel, Inverness
- For Louise Mainland: Spring Fayre, March 23, Kincraig Hall
- For Stefan Robertson: Party night with DJ Gary Tuach, March 23, Chieftain Hotel, Inverness
- For Jacqui Crawford: Ceilidh dance, March 23, Culcabock and Drakies Community Hall, Inverness
- For Andy Dixon and Ruth Mason: Highland Masquerade Ball, March 29, Drumossie Hotel, Inverness
- For Melissa Brailsford: Happy Easter disco, March 29, Mosset Tavern, Forres
- For Stefan Robertson: Easter family ice disco, March 29, Inverness Ice Centre
- For Darryl Geegan: So you think you can drag?, March 30, British Legion Club, Inverness
- For Ailsa Campbell: Charity football tournament, March 30, Maryburgh pitches
- For Kenna Ross: Music Talent Show, March 30, Balloch Church
- For Shireen Fyffe: Sunflower flow yoga & sound bath session, March 30, Inverness Town House
- For Scott Wilson: Quiz night, March 30, Smithton Hotel
- For Robert Ince: Bob's big car boot & indoor market, March 31, Dingwall Mart
- For Jacqui Crawford: Family fun day, March 31, Culcabock and Drakies Community Hall, Inverness
- For Ruth Mason and Andy Dixon: Race night, April 6, Westerlea Hotel, Nairn
- For Sean MacIver and Niamh Mcauley: Race night, April 6, Chieftain Hotel, Inverness
- For Reece Ross and Rachel Wood: Ceilidh, April 6, Green Hall, Inverness
- For Stefan Robertson: Bobby Bee cake event, April 6, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Inverness
- For Jason Kelman: Charity coffee morning, April 6, Inverness Town House
- For Ruth Mason and Andy Dixon: Hoolie for the Hospice Ceilidh, April 7, Hootananny, Inverness
- For Lesley Clark: Rock N Reel fundraiser, April 12, Beaufort Hotel, Inverness
- For Jacqui Crawford: Disco, April 12, Fairways, Inverness
- For Kaitlyn Heggie and Emma MacDonald: Dinner dance, April 13, Nairn Community & Arts Centre
- For Stefan Robertson and Lesley Clark: Full Monty Fundraiser, April 13, Raigmore Motel, Inverness
- For Sonny Rhind: Cammie's Connections, April 13, The Field, Alness
- For Ailsa Campbell: Domino tournament, April 20, Conon Hotel, Dingwall
- For Stefan Robertson: Tipsy tea party, April 27, Beaufort Hotel, Inverness
I'll aim to update the events list each week.
Click here if you would like to make a donation.
