Calendar girls' crafty idea to boost coffers

TV fashion guru Gok Wan may be able to show people how to look good naked - but he has nothing on one Black Country fundraiser who managed to convince more than 20 women to shed their clothing for a nude photo shoot.

Ann Link and her daughter Jess came up with the idea for the bare-all calendar to raise money in memory of three-year-old Ethan Marshall from Bearwood who died aged three last year.

Ann says they were inundated with volunteers who either work at the Crafty Corner shop in Sandon Road, Bearwood or go to the arts and crafts classes that are held there every week.

Work on the calendar began back in May with the girls from the craft shop showing off their talents to raise money for the cardiac unit at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

The 2011 calendars were recently revealed at a launch event at the Eaton Hotel, near Bearwood and already the girls have been able to hand over £2,500 to the hospital so far.

Lunch

Ann Link, who owns Crafty Corner, says: "We first started talking about the calendars over lunch and it was my daughter Jess who came up with the idea.

"We thought we would struggle to get 12 ladies to volunteer but, out of our 80 ladies, 22 came forward."

The ages of those stripping for charity ranged from 26 to 72 and there was a team of helpers on hand to ensure hair, make-up and the carefully placed arts and crafts all looked picture perfect.

Local photographer Stephen Hayes captured all the shots and his wife Viv, who is good friends with Jess Link, also took part in the shoot.

The ladies have recently heard that WHSmith in Union Street, Birmingham has agreed to sell the calendar, priced at £7.99.

"The purpose of the calendar is to make people smile whilst raising funds for the hospital in memory of Ethan Marshall - a boy who was diagnosed with a complex congenital heart condition just 10 days after his birth," says Ann, aged 56.

"Ethan's grandma June Round attends classes at Crafty Corner and also bared all for the calendar.

"Cardiologists at Birmingham Children's Hospital did all that they could to assist Ethan throughout his difficult and short lifetime but, despite their best efforts, Ethan passed away just three years later."

Since Ethan's death his family and friends have raised over £20,000 for Birmingham Children's Hospital.

At the launch event more than 150 guests showed their support for their girls and the evening was hosted by Heart FM's Steve Denyer and Colin Buchanan, star of BBC's Dalziel and Pascoe.

Ann says: "We thought there would be a couple who would back out at the last minute but once they had done one shot everyone stopped caring about what they looked like.

"We thought the older ones would be more nervous but 72-year-old Mavis Ostins was one of the first to strip - and she had quite a good body as well. My favourite shot is definitely December and for that Chris turned round and bared her bottom — which she is quite proud of."

Rose Tims, 63, from Beeches Road in Oldbury posed for the month of March and says the calendar is expected to raise around £10,000 for a worthy cause.

"Ethan's funeral in May last year at West Bromwich crematorium was very emotional and his coffin was tiny - it was a very sad day," says Rose.

To get a calendar visit Crafty Corner, 134 Sandon Road, Bearwood or call Ann Link on 07979 358 332. For video coverage go to www.expressandstar.com