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Do you remember the Calendar Girls?  Twelve middle-aged ladies from a quaint little village in Yorkshire, most of them members of the local WI, stripping off for a charity calendar?

Well, the idea for the infamous calendar, which became known around the world and has been turned into a Hollywood blockbuster, and more recently a West End stage show, is this month celebrating its 10th anniversary. A special 2010 re-launch version of the calendar features six of the original cast but uses new photography.  The background to the original calendar, though, is bittersweet: Angela Baker, or Miss February, had lost her husband, John Richard Baker, to Hodgkin’s lymphoma in July 1998.  As part of their annual project of producing the WI calendar and keen to do some good in John’s memory, Angela and several friends came up with the idea for an alternative WI calendar, posing in the nude.  At the time, the group were hoping to raise enough money to buy a sofa for the hospital in which John had been treated.  Due to their ongoing success, they have to date raised a staggering £1.5 million for Leukaemia Research.  Their amazing achievement even earned the “girls” a special Thank You from the Prince of Wales.

Recreating this particular success story might prove no mean feat, but many charities, voluntary organisations and schools are no strangers to using calendars each year to raise much needed money to fund their work.  Have you thought about doing the same?  Or have you toyed with the idea of using calendars as a marketing tool but never really got round to it or dismissed the idea as too expensive?

Using a personalised calendar is one of the most cost effective, targeted and visible forms of advertising there is.  Get your message – whether charity appeal or straight forward advertising of your products or services – seen by many, every day of the year.  Spread the word about your good cause and raise money at the same time.  Promote your business to your customers and prospects alike.

Rose Calendars have been producing promotional calendars for over a century now and have much expertise in the production of bespoke calendars. Over the years, the company has worked with many charities, like The Rotary Club, The British Lung Foundation, and other, often local charities, producing their charity and fundraising calendars.  So is Rose Calendars’ standing within the industry, that Managing Director Michael Rose has been approached by the BBC to give his take on the phenomenal success of the original Calendar Girls during a radio interview to be broadcast on BBC4’s “You and Yours” this Wednesday, 29th April, at 12 noon.

If you would like to discuss your requirements for your very own fundraising, charity or school calendar, please contact Rose Calendars. We are confident that we can help you turn your ideas into a success story! Our complete range of 2010 calendars can be viewed here.