Baring it all for charity (From Northwich Guardian)

Baring it all for charity

12:00pm Monday 24th September 2012 in News By Emma Rigby

A GROUP of brave women from Northwich are baring it all in memory of a much-loved member of the community.

Describing themselves as being ‘40 and upwards’, the women have stripped off to create a naked calendar, both in memory of their friend Pauline Mills, and to raise money for St Luke’s Hospice.

Pauline died at St Luke’s in March, aged just 56, after a long battle with cancer.

She was known to many as the face of Sainsbury’s in Northwich where she worked as the store’s community ambassador.

As well as organising talks about the company and guiding tours for groups like the WI, she also arranged for donations of surplus food to go to the Salvation Army and The Petty Pool Trust.

She also raised countless amounts of money for other charities including St Luke’s Hospice and The Joshua Tree.

Jackie Ellis, who features as Miss January, said: “Pauline was such a lovely woman and was always doing so much for charities like St Luke’s.

“She celebrated her 56th birthday just weeks before she died and instead of asking for presents, she asked us all to donate money to St Luke’s – that’s the kind of person she was.”

Jackie added: “St Luke’s helped Pauline so much throughout her illness so it’s only fitting that all the proceeds go to them, especially as she cared for them so much.”

The women, or ‘Pink Ladies’ as they like to be called, will be selling the calendar in Sainsbury’s Northwich branch next month – in just their heels and bathrobes.

“It was quite embarrassing taking the photographs at first but we soon got into it,” said Margaret Harris, who is also Miss May, “All of the photographs were taken in our friend’s garden – can you imagine if the postman had walked up the drive?”

Margaret added: “It costs £6,500 a day to run St Luke’s.

“Many people have lost relatives and have gone to St Luke’s. Everyone knows what amazing work they do and they deserve to have people fundraising like this for them.”

The calendar has been fully endorsed by St Luke’s Hospice, with a message on the back reading: “We applaud the pink ladies for making this wonderful calendar.

“We hope it brings a smile to your face throughout 2013 and that it wraps you in a warm hug knowing the money raised is helping us to continue caring for our patients.”

The ‘Pink Ladies’ will be selling the calendar at Sainsbury’s, in Northwich, on Friday, October 19, October 26 and Saturday, October 27.

The calendar costs £5, with all proceeds going to St Luke’s Hospice.