PICTURES: Race night and ceilidh raise more than £3200 for Strictly Inverness dancer’s pledge
It was a busy weekend for a Strictly Inverness dancer, with two events generating more than £3200 for charity.
A race night at the Westerlea Hotel in Nairn on Saturday kicked things off for former police officer Ruth Mason.
The event saw a great turnout with more than £2000 raised for the annual dance contest’s organisers and hosts Highland Hospice and Inverness Ice centre.
Ruth said she felt “overwhelmed” by the amount raised from the “double whammy weekend”.
She commented: “The race night on Saturday was a great success, thanks to all the businesses in Nairn who sponsored a race and my group of girls who ‘sold horses’ and gathered fantastic raffle prizes.
“The Westerlea Hotel provided the perfect venue for such a fun-filled night. It was an education for me as I had little knowledge of how a race night worked! The sum raised is amazing.”
On Sunday, Ruth was busy with an energetic Hoolie for the Hospice at Hootananny in Inverness, with Ardersier Forte singers joining the line-up of performers.
“It’s fantastic to have raised over £1200 from the hoolie,” Ruth continued.
“It was a lovely feel-good afternoon. Hoots was definitely the ideal venue having tourists come in as they passed by.
“I loved all the performances from Reel Scotch Ceilidh Band, Ewan the Piper and Elizabeth Fraser Highland dancers.
“I was especially touched by the Ardersier Forte’s performance of A Thousand Years, I found it very emotive.
“I’d like to thank my dance partner Andy [Dixon, content editor at The Inverness Courier], along with his wife Carol and their children for supporting the events, as I know how hard it is to fit in so many additional activities!
“I am grateful to all who attended my events this weekend – without them, the fantastic sums raised would not happen.”
