A TEAM of fundraisers who posed in nothing but their wellies for a charity calendar have raised more than £13,000 for two local charities.
The fundraisers presented over £6,500 to The Well for Wellbeing in Barnsley last week and the same amount has been donated to Macmillan Cancer Support Barnsley.
The fundraising began back in autumn 2021 when two events inspired Alison Brook to start the fundraising drive.
Alison’s Mum June was diagnosed with breast cancer and television presenter Julia Bradbury launched Boots for Boobs after her own diagnosis.
Alison and a group of friends then sprang into action from posing in nothing but a pair of wellies for a calendar to skipping and hula-hooping, cycling and milking cows.
Alison, of Upper Denby, decided she would do 31 different challenges one a day throughout December 2021 to raise funds. From taking on the highest zipwire to dipping into a local ice cold plunge pool, cycling 31 miles in a day to dressing up as an elf and serving in her local pub, the team raised money every day.
“It was ridiculous really the ideas kept rolling in. I struggled to come to terms with my Mum’s diagnosis and decided that I would put myself out there and try to raise as much money as I could,” said Alison.
After a very busy December, Alison and her friends organised a jumble sale in January 2022 to continue the fundraising efforts. Alison’s ideas didn’t stop there and she decided to call on her friends again for her most daring plan yet.
“I rang a few of my farming friends and told them they weren’t allowed to say no we were going to do a calendar ‘For The Love of Wellies’ where we would be wearing nothing apart from our wellies and produce a calendar to raise more money. We were all very nervous but we thoroughly enjoyed it and it turned out to be really good for our mental well-being too.
“The calendar was all farming related and was really liberating. We have sold over 500 calendars, many of them at Penistone Show, and it has been really popular. I need to say a big thank you to my ‘calendar girls’, Alison, Ruth, Amanda, Anna, Annabelle and ‘mums’ June and Jenny who took part as well as our sponsors and everyone who supported us.”
Fundraising efforts also included a Coffee Day at the The George Inn at Upper Denby with the support of landlord Dean Wyatt and Alison’s husband Ashley and their friend Colin Crossland taking part in Screwball Rally. This saw them travel through six countries around Europe in a car that costs no more than £500.
