Calendar splices brains and brawn (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Calendar splices brains and brawn

3:34pm Monday 10th October 2005 in News By Angela Knight

FORGET the hype surrounding Calendar Girls four warmhearted fundraisers have persuaded Hertfordshire's doctors and firefighters to strike a pose for a cheeky charity calendar.

Ethne Ozholl, Louise Miller, Chris Berendt and Stephanie Carver started fundraising for Grove House Hospice 18 months ago as a tribute to their friend, Val Awcock, 59, who died in the Asian Tsunami last year.

St Albans firefighters bared their torsos for the 2006 calendar while 12 sporting Harpenden hospital consultants agreed to have their heads superimposed onto their bodies.

Ethne Ozholl, who is a medical secretary at Harpenden Memorial Hospital, said: "Val was the catalyst for the fundraising as she was a counsellor at Grove House for 10 years and we took up the mantle after her death.

"She was a very inspirational person and a good friend to all of us. This whole year has been a tribute to her. The calendar is the culmination of our fundraising events."

Throughout the year the group have managed to raise more than £25,000 for Grove House Hospice in St Albans by holding a quiz night, fashion show, wine tasting evening and champagne luncheon.

The group, from across St Albans and Kensworth, hope to raise a further £10,000 and have already had more than 400 orders for the calendars.

Ethne, of Beech Bottom, St Albans, added: "Stephanie's husband Michael very kindly donated his time and materials to take photographs of both the consultants and the firemen.

"Merging the two together was not an easy task but with help from other volunteers the end result is tantalizing to say the least what a fabulous combination."

Only a limited number of calendars, which cost £5, have been produced. Email Ethne at ethneozholl@hotmail.com or call 01727 855090 to place an order or email Louise on miller.louise@btinternet.com or call 01727 852199.

Grove House Hospice, which is based in St Albans City Hospital grounds in Waverley Road supports people living with cancer or a life-threatening illness across Harpenden, Hemel Hempstead and St Albans.

The charity is responsible for paying its own running costs and needs to raise more than £786,000 this year alone. For details, to make a donation or get involved in fundraising activities visit www.grove-house.org.uk or call 01727 731000.