Belladrum Vegan quarter dream project pushed vegan activist after being diagnosed with terminal cancer
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THE dream of creating the first-ever vegan area at one of the Highland’s most popular festivals helped an Inverness activist through therapy for an incurable form of cancer.
Joni Phippin (55), a former community artist and confectioner based in Caiplich, near Belladrum, will finally see years of effort come to life as Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival will offer its inaugural vegan quarter when gates at the three-day event open today.
“I didn’t think I would be alive to see this happen,” said Ms Phippin, who was diagnosed with myeloma – a type of blood cancer which is currently incurable – in February.
“I have gone to Belladrum every year since it started. We are vegan and we ran the Earth Kind Market and also vegan street food events in the Eastgate Shopping Centre for a few years before Covid hit and it was our intention to have a vegan market at Belladrum.
“However, logistically speaking it was quite a big task and then finally they accepted our proposal right before Covid hit, which delayed it for two years. During that time I found out that I had myeloma.”
Ms Phippin, who used to run her confectionery business Prissy Queen of Desserts with her partner Kevin, discovered her disease by accident.
“That’s the thing with myeloma, I broke a couple of bones and went to the doctor to check them – they did a blood test and I was told I had cancer, and eventually that I had only a couple of months to live,” she said.
“Basically on the same day that I signed the tenancy for the new home for our business on the Belladrum Estate, I was lying at Raigmore Hospital and I was told I had cancer. Our plans of course had to be put on hold.
“I just immediately thought – what can I do now? What’s within my powers? Food and healthy eating was one thing, and then I knew that I already put the Belladrum Vegan Quarter in motion so that just became my focus.
“I just thought – well, I need to do all the treatment to get to that point, I have got that responsibility.
“I genuinely didn’t think I would live to see it, never mind being able to do it. So not only to be able to plan it but actually still be alive right now as it’s being put in place, it’s mind-blowing. I am so impressed.”
She said that the support of the people, as well as her goal, helped her through the past months.
“It hasn’t really been that negative for me because people have been so incredible,” she added.
“They have been utterly amazing and supportive. Lesley Strang from Belladrum [Festival] has supported us every step of the way to make me be able to have the opportunity to do what we were dreaming of.
“It’s pushed me on. On top of that, I am a member of Anonymous for the Voiceless, and although I had just been to a couple of meetings before my diagnosis, they have been utterly amazing. The whole group has come out to support us and they have all been giving up their time to help us.
“They really spurred me on and made me feel like I could do it as well.”
Belladrum event manager Ms Strang said: “Joni and Kevin came to us with the concept.
“Vegan food is something that we often get asked for but at that time there weren’t very many vegan traders, so the fact that we had a local company willing to recruit some of their like-minded friends in the industry was wonderful.
“They have been an absolute joy, they have pulled the space together, we worked together in bringing the infrastructure needed and we are really looking forward to it.
“They are friends and neighbours and it was a dream combination so we were more than happy to help them pull together the infrastructure.”
Being currently under stem cell treatment, Ms Phippin said she won’t be able to go to Belladrum and see the coronation of her efforts, however she remains positive.
“I won’t be able to live it, but I don’t care, I am here and I am alive and it’s going ahead – I am really proud,” she added. “Everyday is a gift, that’s how I feel right now.”
