Prison officer reaching for the heights to support Highland Hospice in Ness Factor
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Fiona Clark is planning to take part in a sponsored skydive later this year as one of the finalists in the charity’s singing competition.
Mrs Clark (42), who is originally from the small village of Crianlarich, will now take her leap of faith at Errol Airfield, located between Perth and Dundee, on November 19 – after the original jump was cancelled.
She said: “I have arranged the skydive with a team of five completing it with me who are all also fundraising for the hospice.
“It was supposed to be on September 3 but was postponed due the weather conditions – the new date is November 19 weather permitting.
“I have my Justgiving page and sponsor forms which I have distributed around various places.”
However, she has already collected some funds for the charity when she joined hospice mascot Bobby the Bee at a local branch of Tesco.
And she said she is also hoping to arrange other fundraisers, adding: “I have a big charity evening of mediumship arranged on the October 15 at the Chieftain Hotel in Inverness with Barry Hogg coming from Edinburgh. This event sold out within a week of advertising.
“I’m currently in contact with my daughter’s school who are delighted to get involved with the fundraising and I am waiting for a date to hold a charity collection day with them. Hopefully Bobby the Bee will be on hand to attend.
“I am also in the process of arranging a charity collection in town awaiting the appropriate permissions. Bobby the Bee will hopefully be working hard with us again.”
She has two children – 20-year-old Ryan and Hannah who is 11 – with husband Michael.
Before her current job she worked in the social care sector for almost 20 years. She said: “Palliative care is something that I have provided to various people over the years.
“Through my work as a carer I have seen the work that the hospice does and I am passionate about raising as much money as I can for them because what they do is incredible.
“Myself and my colleagues did a half marathon last year for the hospice and Mikeysline. Both sides of our family have also been affected by cancer.”
She said she had always loved singing, ever since primary school, adding: “I’m really enjoying both the group practice and the solo practice.
“All of the teachers are brilliant with us. I’m getting on well with my solo practice. My teacher is making a great difference to my singing and helping me unlock my potential. She is a great mentor and practice is lots of fun.”
As well as Mrs Clark, the other finalists are Stephen Laurie, Lisa Gray, Jennifer Urquhart, Donna Fraser, Andrew Gill, Caitlin Farquhar, Moira Black and Gregor Matheson.
They will spend the next few months training ahead of the event on November 12 at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness.
They will be coached in teams by Tony Henry, Katy-Louise Mackay and Fiona Forbes.
This year, the winner will take home a grand prize of a performance slot at Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival 2023.
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