Cheeky pics a charity hit

Published on 1st February 2007 in News

The organisers behind the hugely-popular fundraising calendar which featured a group of daring men from Rawcliffe 'in the raw' are celebrating after almost selling out of every copy in a month.

With just a handful of the 'Rawcliffe Men in the Raw' calendars left, people across the region are being urged to snap up the remaining copies before they all vanish.

The calendar, which features 11 men from the village baring all in aid of the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign, has exceeded all expectations by selling out in just a few short weeks.

Within days of it going on sale organisers were forced to order a reprint and there are now less than 20 calendars left.

The popularity of Rawcliffe Men in the Raw has reached way beyond Yorkshire's boundaries with several copies being shipped to America and avid internet buyers snapping up the calendar for five times its original price on the internet.

Initial estimates suggest the initiative will have raised in excess of £2,100 for Everyman and the organisers are now planning an official cheque presentation for the charity.

Organisers Victoria Hannah and Vicki Hookham said: "The calendar has been a bigger success than we could have ever hoped to imagine.

"We had to order another 100 calendars just days after launching it and the demand over Christmas was unbelievable.

"The support it has received has been truly amazing and we would like to thank everybody who's bought a calendar.

"As an added bonus we've had several supporters actually donating cash not to have a calendar and some people, including the Jemmy Hirst at the Rose and Crown pub in Rawcliffe, have even staged their own fundraising events to help boost our total.

"Thanks to the support of a number of local companies and people we've even been able to ensure every penny from every calendar sale has gone to Everyman to help them fight cancer.

"The final word must go to the men who took part. Without their guts, good humour and patience this calendar wouldn't have been possible."

Each of the men taking part, who range in age from 29 to 54 years old, adopted poses from each of their individual professions and hobbies while naked.

The calendar, which was designed for free by Esther Fowler of Black and White Design, culminates with a cheeky picture of all the participants having a well-earned drink in their favourite local pub, the Jemmy Hirst at the Rose and Crown - each wearing nothing more than a Santa hat.

Featured in the calendar are: landlord of the Jemmy Hirst at the Rose and Crown pub, Simon Hicks; owner of the Sharp hairdressing salon, Tony Hookham; local musician Billy Auld; golf fan Jeremy Triffit; journalist Ben Pindar; Mick 'The Dyker' Hayward; owner of Pets Pad, Graham Fowler; Rawcliffe Postmaster Gary Brown; owner of BLAC Electrical and motorbike fan Andy Baker; local farmer Paul Blacker; and local builder Mark Rodwell.

Thanks for support

A host of local companies and people have also pledged support to help ensure every penny from each calendar sale can go to the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign.

Support has come from: the Goole Times; Drax Power Ltd; Sharp Hairdressing; TIMLOC Building Products; BLAC Electrical; Mike Hessay at Darrington Golf Club; Carol and Robert Young, Shaun Spooner and Gillian Dickinson; Cath Sanderson; photographer Joel Ricketts; and Sarah Mann.

Licensees of the Jemmy Hirst at the Rose and Crown on Rawcliffe's Riverside, Jane and Simon Hicks, have scooped special praise from the calendar organisers for allowing the men to be photographed inside their pub, providing ongoing support and also appearing in the publication.

After hearing of its popularity a spokesperson for Everyman said: "I just wanted to say congratulations on your very successful calendar.

"I am so pleased to hear Rawcliffe Men in the Raw has proved such a hit that you had to order reprints after selling nearly 200 copies in the first week, and that it has been such a hit on eBay.

"The money you have raised is a truly fantastic amount and I hope you are all very pleased with what you have achieved. Well done and congratulations again."

* The calendar, which costs just £7.50, is on sale at the Goole Times office on Boothferry Road and is also available by contacting: rawcliffemen intheraw@hotmail.co.uk