Calendar Girls 2009

I was excited to hear that the WI Calendar Girls are celebrating their 10 year anniversary. I wonder if they realised what a sensation they would be when they first had the original idea in 1999?

I can remember watching the film and crying with laughter at the brilliant way their story was portrayed.

There is of course a serious side to the reason why they produced the calendar in the first place and that was to raise funds for a local hospital that cared for the husband of one of the calendar girls. But, their calendar was the first of many that have followed over the last 10 years. I can remember seeing a sensational calendar in Austria, where the skiing instructors posed in strategic positions with their skis, and of course we’ve heard of fireman, policemen and many other examples of folk who have been very happy to take their kit off for a good cause.

Rosemary Conley franchisees are no exception and the first of several calendars was produced by franchisee Lindsey Peters from Ware in Hertfordshire. Lindsey produced a classy and clever calendar featuring members of her classes who were happy to model, having lost significant amounts of weight and felt good about themselves. It was a classic combination of enterprise, ingenuity, inspiration and excitement and it went on to raise, together with a celebratory ball, £17,500 for Cancer Research UK. This was the first of many fund-raising initiatives that Lindsey has created and since 2004 she has raised over £145,000 for a variety of charities.

Many of our franchisees undertake fund-raising initiatives throughout the year and I am so proud of them for their hard work and generosity. They wouldn’t do it if they didn’t enjoy it and it is a great testament to their enthusiasm and sparkling personalities that their members are so keen to support them. They are a very special group of people.

Check our website for details of your nearest Club to find out about fund-raising initiatives in your area.