Strictly Inverness 2024 diary: We’re all winners!

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The results are in and the winners of this year’s Strictly Inverness are undoubtedly Highland Hospice and Inverness Ice Centre.

These charities which do so much for the community and touch so many people’s lives will deservedly benefit from all the money raised by the 2024 class for the annual dance contestant - which in turn makes us all winners as well.

• Click here if you would like to make a general donation

• Tickets for charity dance competition Strictly Inverness to go on sale

• PICTURES: Black-tie bash bags £6k for Strictly Inverness dancer’s fundraising campaign

None of us will ever know how many families our fundraising efforts have made a difference to, which makes it all the more important and special.

Each dancer is trying their best to generate awareness of the event, their own fundraising activities and these causes which organise and host Strictly Inverness, which takes place in May.

We all have a variety of opportunities for the public to support us and every time someone does, it is very much appreciated.

I was so lucky to have the help and support of my colleague Louise Ross and others at Highland News and Media for the Highland Masquerade Ball at the Drumossie Hotel last night.

It was a spectacular success, raising more than £4600 with around 135 people in attendance. We had a fabulous meal, some phenomenal donations for our games and raffle, an awesome performance from local TFX dancers, an amazing ceilidh led by Tweed and it was compered brilliantly by Gary Tuach, who closed the night with a DJ set laden with floorfillers. Evie Morrison, who was a finalist in BBC hit show The Traitors, was also a gracious special guest, being interviewed in front of the audience and happy to chat and have photos with anyone who was there.

Feedback has been positive and it was terrific to see so many people embraced the theme and wore masks. Although a lot of work, it was well worth the effort and the memories will stay with me for a long time to come.

As well as being thankful to all the individuals and businesses who supported the ball, I was especially pleased to see the support from fellow Strictly Inverness dancers. Although it’s a competition, part of the reason I signed up was to meet more people and form more friendships and going along to each others events is something I’ve tried to do as much as possible as well.

Last weekend my family and I went to Kenna Ross’s afternoon tea at Ness Walk, which was splendid. There were so many cakes and treats that we had to take some leftovers home! Kenna also performed some requests for my daughters on the piano, which was an extra special touch. She’s very talented, with upcoming gigs including Belladrum, so look out for her if you’re going to that this summer.

Afterwards, we were at the ice centre for dance duo Rachel Wood and Reece Ross’s ice disco. Although I watched from the sidelines (I can’t ice skate!), my wife and girls always love any chance they get to go on the ice.

The next day, in between dance training, we went to Amy Macleod and Lana Ingram’s family fun day at The Training Club. The kids loved the bouncy castle and desserts from Miele’s while I had a shot on the rodeo bull - that was the first, and possibly the last, time I try that!

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 - for me and dance partner Ruth Mason, we have a rumba and a samba to master. We are also learning a group dance as part of the run of shows.

Last Sunday we had the chance to go over some of the trickier parts of the group dance as a smaller group. Later that day we had our rumba lesson and walked through the last portion of choreography. It was a lot to take in and is such an intricate set of movements. If we pull it off, it could be something to behold.

In contrast, our samba is also technically challenging for me, with my timings not really being as good as they ought to be just yet, but we’ll get there. We also walked through our intro and the ending which means we have an idea of exactly how all three of our dances should look - whether they pan out that way in reality, only time will tell.

Regardless of what happens 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.

Ruth has also put together a race night at the Westerlea Hotel in Nairn on April 6 and a ceilidh at Hootananny in Inverness on April 7. And I have a body waxing challenge at The Therapy Suite on April 20.

I'm also super grateful to The Therapy Suite, 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, which I'm sure other dancers would echo and as a group, over a period of about three months, we’ve collectively raised more than £126,500 - which is incredible.

All the fundraising activities coming up that I'm aware of are here:

• 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 Shaun Rose: Ice skating party, March 31, Inverness Ice Centre

• For Jackie Sutherland: Smartphone quiz night, April 1, Platform 8, Inverness

• For Robert Ince: Curry and quiz night, April 5, Dingwall Auction Mart

• For Ruth Mason: 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 Craig Watson: Ceilidh, April 6, Loch Ness Country House Hotel

• For Ruth Mason: 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 Louise Mainland: Family fundraising ceilidh, April 13, Kincraig Village Hall

• For Shaun Rose and Kenna Ross: Prize bingo, April 14, Café V8, Inverness

• For Rock ‘n’ roll bingo, April 19, Chieftain Hotel, Inverness

• For Andy Dixon: Body waxing challenge, April 20, The Therapy Suite, Inverness

• For Ailsa Campbell: Domino tournament, April 20, Conon Hotel, Dingwall

• For Jason Kelman and Shireen Fyffe + Sean MacIver and Niamh Mcauley: Dirty Dancing dance workshop, April 20, Inverness Town House

• For Lesley Clark: Burlesque spring fling, April 20, Upstairs, Inverness

• For Clare MacDonald: 'His' & 'Hers' evening delight, April 20, Kirkhill Community Centre

• For Robert Ince: Community Mini Market, April 20, Tesco car park, Dingwall

• For Stefan Robertson: Tipsy tea party, April 27, Beaufort Hotel, Inverness

• For Craig Watson: Quiz, April 27, Farr Hall, Inverarnie

• For Robert Ince: Tipsy tea party, April 27, Dingwall Legion Hall

I'll aim to update the events list each week.

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