All was finally ‘revealed’ to local ladies who dared to bare for a charity calendar, during a special celebration at Birmingham’s Repertory Theatre last week.
Nervous female fundraisers who posed for a cheeky calendar in May, saw their photos for the first time when they were unveiled at a red carpet launch event, joined by special guests and dignitaries.
Thirty nine women, aged between 19 and 80, struck a series of cheeky poses in a top-secret shoot, for the ‘sassy and sophisticated’ charity calendar – in aid of a host of charities close to their hearts.
Highlights of the event included interviews with some of the Calendar Girls themselves as well as hearing from Guest of Honour Tricia Stewart, who had travelled from North Yorkshire to support the project.
As ‘Miss October,’ Tricia was one of 11 plucky ladies, aged between 45 and 65, to pose for the Rylestone & District WI naked calendar, the first of its kind, in 1999. It went on to sell hundreds of thousands of copies, raising a whopping £6.5 million for the then-named Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, now Blood Cancer UK.
A song by ‘Miss December,’ Sue Cressman, was also aired for the first time. The special remix of her previous charity song, Together We’ll Survive and also available to purchase as part of the fundraising on the night.
The A3 glossy wall calendar is the original vision of Ladies First Professional Development Network Director, Tracey McAtamney, from Balsall Common, to mark her 60th birthday year.
She said after the launch party: “What a night – and what an incredible journey it has been! The launch of our Ladies First Charity Calendar at The Rep was a truly wonderful evening, shining a light on our amazing Calendar Girls, their personal stories, and the charities and causes so close to their hearts. It was most definitely our time to shine.
“I want to say a huge thank you to our Calendar Girls for having the courage to step outside their comfort zones and share their stories, to our sponsors who believed in our vision, and to everyone who has supported us along the way. I am incredibly proud and humbled by what we have achieved together .”
She added: “But the launch was just the beginning. Our ambition is to raise £50,000 for the charities and causes we are supporting, and now we need everyone to get behind us to make that happen. Every calendar sold and every donation to our JustGiving page will help us get closer to our target. Remember, that when you purchase a calendar, one lucky person will win a diamond worth £1,800, with the winning number announced on 14th February!”
Copies of the limited-edition calendar, which cost £20, are also available to purchase from the Ladies First website and Calendar Club stalls in Touchwood Shopping Centre, Solihull; Royal Priors in Leamington; and West Orchards in Coventry for anyone who can’t get along on the night.
The dream team helping Tracey’s vision consisted of Amanda Chalmers, Jane Collier and Bianca Rodrigues-Perry.
Amanda said: “So much work has gone into the project and, now we can hold the calendar in our hands for the first time, I am incredibly proud to be able to step back and know I played a part in bringing it to life. It is the result of months of heart, soul and passion inspired every step of the way by the causes we’re all supporting. It’s been emotional!”
Jane, who runs Visually Virtual Photography, said: “I loved being part of the calendar journey, from the initial ideas and planning to capturing the day alongside David Perry, and finally stepping in front of the camera as Miss January, with a reflector in hand!
At its heart, this calendar is about women empowering women, bringing people together to support 30 incredible charities, including one that holds a very special place in my heart following the loss of my Dad three years ago.
“For me, this project is about so much more than a calendar. It’s about friendship, strength, raising awareness, giving back and sharing our personal journeys.”
Bianca, of Bia’s Marketing, Production & PR, said: ““It was amazing to see the calendar come to life and everyone’s wonderful reaction on the night. Being part of the production team, a sponsor and Miss January was very special.
“Producing the mini documentary also gave me the chance to hear the women’s personal stories. Having experienced postnatal depression and lost my brother-in-law to suicide, supporting Coventry, Warwickshire & Worcestershire Mind is very close to my heart. I’m proud to have been part of such a meaningful project.”
Headline sponsors for the calendar also include Pertemps in Meriden; Mallory Court Hotel & Spa and Unique Venues Birmingham.
The calendar can be purchased HERE.
