Canadian dance troupe steps up to help with town’s virtual fundraiser

Highland dancers from Canada have pledged to support a Burns Supper in Forres to help some of the region’s most vulnerable affected by coronavirus.

The Vancouver-based Dunvegan troupe fell in love with Forres after performing at the town’s Highland games in 2019.

So, when organisers of a fundraising Burns Supper appealed for people to provide entertainment for next week’s virtual event – the group offered to help.

The Burns Fae Forres event is in aid of the Moray Emergency Relief Fund.

Organiser Claire Doughty said: “I was contacted by a Scottish dance troupe from Canada. They actually visited the Forres Highland Games in 2019 and the owner of the dance school got in touch to say her dancers would love to support the town once again, so we have a very international event.

“Our first donations also came in from America, so it seems the world is watching Forres.

“We have also been overwhelmed by the support from performers, many of whom are professionals and have also been hit hard by the effects of the virus.”

Local fiddle players Sarah Perricone and Ewen Brindle and singer Heather Hatch will also be performing.

Attendees are asked to make a voluntary donation to the fund and encouraged to make their own haggis, neeps and tatties to

enjoy while they are being entertained.

The Moray Emergency Relief Fund was set up early in the pandemic to support those unable to get help from other funding pots.

Organiser Sara Brockbank said: “The great thing about the event is that people can just sit back and enjoy it from the comfort of their own homes.”

The event can be found on Facebook by searching for Burns Fae Forres.

Claire Doughty, an organiser of Burns Fae Forres.