Challenge Participants Pose Naked for Charity
Not content with the prospect of cycling and trekking hundreds of miles in Vietnam to raise money for Jersey Hospice Care, a group of brave Islanders have stripped off to pose naked for a charity calendar.
The 2008 calendar, which goes on sale on the 11th October and costs £10, features 21 participants in the Bedell Group Vietnam Challenge 2007. It was inspired by the legendary members of a North Yorkshire branch of the Women’s Institute, who made history when they took part in a similar project a few years ago.
Cyclist Michelle Bolton, who features in the July and December photographs, says the team had a lot of fun during the shoot for the calendar: ‘It was always intended to be light-hearted and we hope our sense of fun comes through in the pictures. The calendar has been carefully crafted so that although clothing is lacking, eyes do not need to be averted!’ she says. Thanks to our generous sponsors, we have managed to cover all the costs of producing the calendar so that all sale proceeds go straight to Jersey Hospice Care. People can buy a calendar in the knowledge that each sale is the equivalent of giving a Hospice patient two hours free from pain.’
The Bedell Group Vietnam Challenge 2007 aims to raise £330,000 for Hospice and involves almost 100 Islanders cycling or trekking through Vietnam’s countryside, covering a combined distance of more than 780km over two weeks next month. Each challenge participant has signed up to raise at least £2,750 for Jersey Hospice Care and the calendar is one of their fundraising ideas.
It features male and female cyclists and trekkers in various poses, including in a bike shop, on a tandem bike, checking in at the Airport and wearing nothing but a pair of walking boots. The photographs were taken by Jon Tarrant and the calendar was produced and printed free of charge by Adapt Design and Advertising and Mailmate.
Michelle says: ‘When fellow cyclist Sue Meyer and I first suggested the idea, we thought we’d be struggling to find willing participants. But quite the opposite - we were inundated with volunteers! We hope what we have produced is something which is not only humorous and for a good cause, but gives people something in return for their donation to Hospice.’
The calendars cost £10 each and are available to purchase at Marks & Spencer in St Helier and St Brelade, as well as Checkers and Checkers Express stores.