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Ness Factor 2024 contestant Charlie Simmonds blown away by level of support from Inverness businesses and public during fundraising for Highland Hospice





Ness Factor 2024 contestant Charlie Simmonds says he has been shocked by the generosity of local businesses and the general public as he tries to raise money for Highland Hospice through the singing competition.

Fundraising is a key element to every participant’s entry, with each singer tasked with raising at least £1000 through events and online fundraisers.

As part of a duet with Shelley Gill, the pair’s efforts have so far returned around triple that with a little bit of time still to go before show day on October 26.

Having never done much fundraising for charity previously though, Mr Simmonds has been taken by surprise by how forthcoming people have been to donate to the cause, with his main event being .

“It is surprising how people put their hand in their pocket, it has been amazing,” he explained.

“I have found that the people with less seem to give more.

Charlie Simmonds and Shelley Gill have had plenty of support for their Ness Factor 2024 fundraisers.
Charlie Simmonds and Shelley Gill have had plenty of support for their Ness Factor 2024 fundraisers.

“The smaller businesses especially have been so generous, and I can just be telling a random stranger what I’m doing and they hand me money. It’s incredible.

“We have upped our target twice already, and it’s climbing again. People have just been so good with us, and everyone can see what you’re doing online and get behind you which is great.

“As soon as you’re associated with the Hospice, you don’t mind shaking a bucket at people and saying ‘this is what we’re doing’, because everyone knows it costs a lot of money for the Hospice to run every day.”

The majority of Mr Simmonds’ previous singing experience came from karaoke, so Ness Factor will be something quite different for him.

With show day fast approaching though, he has generally enjoyed the journey so far and is determined to keep working hard to make his and Mrs Gill’s performance the best it can possibly be.

“It was pretty exciting to begin with, and then they started throwing stuff at us that I didn’t expect,” Mr Simmonds reflected.

“Every week it gets harder, but I think we’re coping alright. I kind of thought there would be a group song, and then our own song, but there’s also a closing song which we all have to learn and they’re now introducing dance moves too which we weren’t expecting.

“It’s all been a bit of a surprise week-to-week, and it has all been brand new to me.

“I just wanted to light a fire and change something, and maybe end up with a few more friends and a bit more of a social life after it, and whatever else comes from it. We’re obviously getting taught well, so picking up an extra skill is a good thing.

“There’s the whole anxiety battle about it as well. You’ve got to set yourself a bit of a challenge, and myself and Shelley both wondered early on how we would manage this but you have to push yourself.

“We’re almost at a stage where we can just look forward to it. We have done everything as far as time off, so now we really have to practice as much as we can.

“We’ve got our song, we know what we’re doing, and we know what our theme is for our outfits. All we have to do now is practice so that we nail it.”

Donate to Shelley and Charlie’s JustGiving raising money for Highland Hospice through Ness Factor 2024 here


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