Inverness walker to face fear for cause
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AN Inverness care home worker with a fear of heights is summoning up all her determination as she prepares to do a fundraising walk across the Kessock Bridge.
Lynda Mitchell is doing the challenge for the Haven Appeal which aims to raise £4 million to develop a pioneering centre in the city for children and young people with severe and complex needs.
“It may not seem much to some people but I have an absolutely horrendous fear of heights and bridges,” said the 46-year-old who lives with partner Michael Kontra in Hilton.
“In the past when I used to drive to Dingwall, I would go around the Longman Roundabout three times before I got the courage to go over the bridge.”
Ms Mitchell, an activities co-ordinator at the Isobel Fraser Residential Home, was inspired to come up with a fundraising event after recently attending a concert at the Merkinch Community Centre organised by 10-year-old Fraser Donaldson in support the Haven Appeal.
“I was absolutely blown away that a 10-year-old boy would set up a concert and all the proceeds go to this charity,” she said. “I wanted to do my bit.”
The walk was a spur-of-the-moment idea during a subsequent conversation with Elsie Normington, founder of the Elsie Normington Foundation which launched the Haven Appeal.
She will do the walk on November 2 and will be accompanied by her 20-year-old son Nathan and Linda Philips, a senior care worker at the Isobel Fraser Residential Home, but is also inviting anyone else to join her.
“The more, the merrier,” she said. “It will be a push for me. I have sheer determination and will power so I am hoping I will not back out of it.”
Mrs Normington is providing tea and cakes at her home in North Kessock before the walkers make the return journey.
The aim is to build the Haven Centre on a site in Smithton. It will feature respite housing, a community-run café, specialist play areas, office and meeting spaces and a community garden.
