Highland Hospice is a place held dear in the hearts of Shireen Fyffe (30) and her mum’s husband Jack Mackay, after Shireen’s mum Joan was cared for in its Inpatient Unit before she sadly died in 2022.

This year Shireen is one of 32 dancers participating in Strictly Inverness, and every step she takes, alongside her partner Jason Kelman, in May, will be danced in memory of her mother.

In a very special twist to Shireen’s fundraising, her late mother Joan’s talented efforts in furniture upcycling are contributing to her total.

Joan had a keen interest in upcycling, learning a lot of her skills at New Start Highland, a local charity that creates social and environmental improvements within the Highland community through supporting people, delivering training opportunities and promoting re-use. Joan attended classes there in 2017 and was so skilled that she was asked to exhibit her work at an event held in Eden Court in 2018.

After Joan died, husband Jack reached out to New Start to ask if they would like to sell on some of the pieces Joan had made for sale, in their shop. Of the nine pieces contributed, eight have been sold by New Start, with the remaining item, a beautiful yellow love seat, currently listed as an item in Highland Hospice’s Catwalk for a Cause Auction (details below.)

The eight items sold have raised an incredible £708, and Jack, sure that Joan would have liked this to be split between New Start Highland and Shireen’s Strictly Inverness fundraising in aid of Highland Hospice and Inverness Ice Centre, arranged for this to happen.

Jack said, “It’s comforting for me to be able to put £354 towards Shireen’s Strictly fundraising total, as a result of the furniture my talented wife Joan so lovingly restored. I’m so proud of Joan – and Shireen - and it really feels like Joan is directly contributing towards Shireen’s Strictly challenge, which is incredibly special. Both Shireen and I feel very emotional about this contribution, and I will forever be indebted to both charities for the support and confidence that they gave to Joan.”

New Start’s Operations Manager Russell Rekhy commented, “ Joan was naturally talented and very creative and by attending New Start Highland’s training workshops, Joan soon developed her own range of goods, which she showcased and sold at the Eden Court exhibition and other outlets.”

Joan is fondly remembered by all the training staff at New Start Highland for her passion and willingness to learn.”

Highland Hospice Communications Manager Wendy Morgan added, “We are all behind Shireen as she trains and fundraises towards Strictly Inverness as we know how special her reason is for participating.

On behalf of Highland Hospice, huge thanks to both Shireen and Jack for their continued support. They have done so much to fundraise and to raise awareness of our care and services, and we are so very grateful for this.”

Click here to support Shireen’s Strictly Inverness participation.

To bid on Joan’s beautifully crafted love seat in our Catwalk for a Cause Auction, please click here.

More information about New Start Highland can be found via this link.