A CHEEKY Warwickshire charity calendar has won the support of fundraising royalty – the original Calendar Girl Tricia Stewart.
Tricia famously had the idea for the Alternative WI Calendar, which launched in April 1999, going on to sell more than 300,000 calendars and raise £6.5million.
It’s a legacy members of the latest Ladies First Charity Calendar – and many others – have since been inspired by, especially now that Tricia, aged 77, has pledged her support.
More than 30 members of the Warwickshire and West Midlands-based networking group, aged between 19 and 80, will stand in front of the camera striking a series of cheeky poses for the charity calendar – in aid of a host of nominated local and national charities.
The calendar is being shot at Mallory Court Hotel and Spa in Leamington.
Tricia Stewart has been announced as guest of honour at the calendar’s red carpet launch event at The Birmingham Rep Theatre on October 15. Announcing her support, she also sent a video message to the new calendar cohort.
She said: “We are so proud of our legacy and so proud this carries on. I remember my name and number went out with the press releases and I was on three phones fielding calls for weeks. It was like running another business; using the skills I had learnt from running the office of my own company.”
As ‘Miss October,’ Tricia was one of 11 plucky Yorkshire ladies, aged between 45 and 65, to pose for the Rylestone and District WI naked calendar, the first of its kind, in 1999. It went on to sell 88,000 copies in the UK and, later, a further 240,000 in America – and many more since.
Behind the latest calendar initiative is Ladies First Professional Development Network – a national networking group which organises events and awards for inspirational female achievers across the UK.
The West Midlands-based organisation, headed up for the last ten years by Tracey McAtamney, is proudly based on three principles referred to as the three I’s – to Inspire, to Inform and to Introduce.
Tracey continued: “I’m absolutely thrilled that the original Calendar Girl herself has endorsed our Ladies First Charity Calendar and will be joining us at the launch on October 15. It’s incredible support from such a true icon.
“Our aim is to raise as much money as possible for over 30 charities close to our hearts, while also growing in confidence and putting ourselves out of our comfort zones.”
Charities set to benefit include Molly Ollys, Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind; The Esther Project;, Shakespeare Soroptimists, Safeline and RSPCA Coventry and District Branch.
