Gillian’s aiming to make ‘hustle’ help

A PERTHSHIRE woman who is setting up a new foundation to promote health and exercise is hoping to get celebrity backing.

Former Highland dance champion Gillian Urquhart, from Scone, who runs dance fitness company Highland Hustle, is setting up the foundation, Hustle Helps, to benefit people in the local community.

She is kicking off with a fundraising ceilidh in Murrayshall House Hotel, Scone, and has extended invitations to Lorraine Kelly as well as local politicians John Swinney and Pete Wishart to join in the fun and help raise money for the cause.

Gillian, 43, said: “Lorraine Kelly has actually joined in one of my classes, so it would be great to get her support.

“The foundation is being set up to promote healthy living and exercise. We know it can be expensive to get equipment or venues, so we hope to be able to help any cash-strapped organisations and, in doing so, bring back the emphasis of the importance of exercise to our health.”

Gillian, a former PE teacher who performed as a solo dancer in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, set up Highland Hustle to bring the benefits of Highland dance training to the wider public. After three years, the regime is now in seven countries, with more than 200 classes.

Details of the ceilidh on November 11 can be accessed at highlandhustle.com.

Former addict John Wylie (main image) and, inset above, Connor Clark and Karen Kennedy.