Strictly Inverness 2024 diary: So nice, we've done it twice!
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
I was taken aback by my employer and corporate sponsor for Strictly Inverness HNM doing this promotion offer last month and it was so nice, that we're doing it twice.
Our community of digital subscribers is growing rapidly, and we’re giving you another unmissable opportunity to join them. Highland News & Media is offering a 12-month Digital+ subscription to our 11 titles, including this one, for just £25 – with all the money going to charity.
- It's back! Get a year’s subscription to The Inverness Courier for a £25 charity donation
- Click here to subscribe
The deal is in support of my participation in this year’s Strictly Inverness dance contest, which will see all the money collected from this promotion going to Highland Hospice and Inverness Ice Centre.
Our Digital+ subscription, which usually costs £49.88 per year, grants you access to our websites, news app, e-editions of our newspapers and invites to exclusive events.
We’ve been the media partner of this wonderful event since day one and I've found it humbling to fundraise and get to know the other competitors.
I've been partnered with former police officer Ruth Mason, who is amazing. She has organised some fabulous fundraising events for the Strictly Inverness charities. These include a quiz night at Rose Street Foundry in Inverness this coming Tuesday (info above) and a coffee morning at Nairn United Reformed Church next Saturday (info below).
She 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.
Sandwiched inbetween is our Highland Masquerade Ball on March 29 (Good Friday). It's shaping up to be a fab event and the prize pot on the night has been boosted by the addition of the amazing family overnight stay with dinner, swimming and cinema passes from Macdonald Aviemore Resort which was won in the separate bonus ball contest earlier this week by the very kind-hearted David Stewart (Inverness Courier columnist and ex-politician), who donated it to this event.
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 – our rumba and samba. We are also learning a group dance as part of the run of shows in May.
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.
We're also really thankful to psychic June Field because our Strictly Inverness fundraising campaign was given a share of the money (just over £180) from a charity raffle at her event at the Craigmonie Hotel in Inverness on Wednesday. Ruth went along with some friends and really enjoyed it.
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 nine 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 £86,500.
All the fundraising activities coming up that I'm aware of are here:
- 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: '80s 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 Amy Macleod and Lana Ingram: Pub quiz, March 23, The Fluke, Inverness
- For Reece Ross and Rachel Wood: Ice disco, March 23, Inverness Ice Centre
- For Amy Macleod and Lana Ingram: Family Fun Day, March 24, The Training Club, Inverness
- For Reece Ross and Rachel Wood: Evening of mediumship, March 28, Caley Club, 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 Jackie Sutherland: Smartphone quiz night, April 1, Platform 8, Inverness
- 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 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 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 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.
