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Race now on to get copies of calendar

Lee Sykes
6/12/2006

THE daring ladies of the Delph Donkeys Running Club have braved the elements without their vests to raise cash for a good cause.

Trainer and founder member Caroline Fisher came up with the idea of a tastefully risque picture shoot after one of the club members had successfully battled bowel cancer.

Caroline, 38, said: "Alison Shore was found to be suffering from bowel cancer earlier this year and is now happily on the mend after undergoing chemotherapy. We thought a calendar would be a fun way to raise cash for bowel cancer research and raise awareness of the condition. It was also a good excuse to glam-up and generally act daft.

"Some of the ladies were a bit reticent at first but were fine with it when they realised it was going to be very tastefully done. In any case, when you get to our age you're past caring. Some of our husbands weren't too keen on the idea at first but they have come round to it and have all ordered lots of calendars.

"It was a fun thing to do, although it was absolutely freezing for some of the shots - particularly the topless ones."

The ladies taking part are all aged between 30 and 50 and from the Saddleworth area. The pictures were taken in Delph and Dobcross.

The Delph Donkeys was formed in January 2005 and takes its name from the old railway line where the ladies do most of their running.

The calendars cost £12 and can be bought by contacting Caroline on 07752 549 168, with all proceeds going to Lynn Faulds Wood's Bowel Cancer Campaign.

The full list of the brave ladies who appear on the calendar is: Caitlin Bass, Sara Burrell, Sheran Cooper, Jody Durr, Caroline Fisher, Diane Hallworth, Kirstie Heald, Heather Killa, Kathryn Lyons, Geraldine Malone, Margaret Pearson, Lesley Purcell, Michelle Royle, Amanda Sanders, Alison Shore, Karren Sibbles, Julie Stanley, Carol Taylor, Ruth Walton, Alison Williams, Suzanne Wright.

The photography was done by Jan Gamble and each month of the calendar is sponsored by a different local company.