We wondered who had been hit – and we found out it was both of them.
A Lanarkshire mum with a passion for dance is on a mission to raise £5,000 for charity in tribute to her dad, a triple-amputee who sustained life-changing injuries in Afghanistan.
Nikkole Jamieson was only 13 years old when she and her family found out that her dad Gary was in a critical condition. Her younger sister Taylan was aged just 11 months.
On a routine patrol in Afghanistan in 2010, Gary Jamieson, a sergeant in the 1st Battalion Scots Guards, lost both legs and his left arm in a devastating IED attack. His best friend Alan Cameron, Nikkole’s “Uncle Cammy”, lost half his skull in the blast. He died a year into his recovery.
“The day the soldier came to our door to tell us what had happened we were waiting on a phone call from dad,” said Nikkole, now 29 and a mum of three.
“With my uncle out there and my dad, when they came, we immediately wondered who had been hit – and we found out it was both of them.”
Gary and Cammy were in comas for two weeks before spending several months in Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham for treatment and recovery – 270 miles away from Nikkole’s family home in Stonehouse, Lanarkshire.
SSAFA enabled the family to remain close to their loved ones during the toughest time of their lives, facilitating accommodation at nearby Norton House and supporting them with travel to and from the hospital.
The charity also helped the Jamiesons access crucial wheelchair adaptations to their home, including wide doorways, a chair lift, and modifications to the kitchen and bathroom to help maintain Gary’s quality of life on his discharge from hospital.
“The support we received from SSAFA was amazing,” Nikkole said. “SSAFA was there for us even when my dad couldn’t be.”
A keen dancer since she was a toddler, Nikkole said her local dance classes were a positive outlet for her while her family adjusted to their new circumstances.
But years later, battling with body image and postnatal depression following the birth of her daughters, it was a dance class she had never tried before that helped her get her confidence back – and inspired her fundraising efforts for SSAFA.
“I was extremely low and didn’t know if I’d be able to bring up my three girls,” Nikkole explained. “My mum took me to a burlesque class and I fell in love with dance again. I felt like me again.”
Now an established teacher of burlesque chair dance, teaching classes across Lanarkshire to more than 60 students including her mum and sister, Nikkole is determined to share her passion for burlesque with other Lanarkshire ladies – and raise life-changing funds in the process.
Nikkole and around 40 of her students will show off their skills in a fundraising dance show at the Radstone Hotel in Larkhall on Saturday 15th November at 7pm. Hosted by TikTok star Lewis Wilson, the evening will include games and a raffle as well as burlesque performances.
Nikkole concluded, saying:
“It’s all about empowerment and self-confidence. It will be an amazing night for a great cause.”
Nikkole’s fundraiser – called “Lights, Camera, Strut!” – begins at 7pm on Saturday, November 15 at Radstone Hotel, 3 Ayr Road, Shawsburn, Larkhall, South Lanarkshire ML9 2TZ.
Tickets are available from trybooking.
SSAFA volunteers have been helping the Armed Forces community – regulars and reserves, serving or retired, and their families since 1885. To volunteer or fundraise for SSAFA, or to seek support, visit the SSAFA website or search for “SSAFA near me”.
