Meath ‘Calendar Girls’ send positive body message
A GROUP of brave women from Athboy and surrounding areas have stripped off to raise much needed funds for charity.
A calendar featuring the group of 18 women has gone on sale to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society.
The women, who all attend Body Empowerment Fitness Gym in Athboy, decided to strip down to raise much-needed funds for the worthy cause.
Among them is actress Mary, McEvoy, now 70, who starred as the iconic Biddy Byrne in Glenroe for many years.
Their calendar was inspired by the heartwarming 2003 film, 'Calendar Girls', which featured renowned actresses Helen Mirren and Julie Walters.
Olivia Purcell, who runs the gym which is located just outside Athboy on the Delvin Road said that a group of the women were chatting one day when Mary McEvoy suggested they do some kind of fundraiser for charity.
"We all agreed we'd do a calendar and the funds would go to the Irish Cancer Society, as each have known someone or lost someone who has battled cancer. One of the women has gone through breast cancer.
"It is tastefully done - we weren't doing Playboy. There are no filters as we wanted to show everybody as they are. There are so many photos today with photoshopping and filters that add to people's issues with their bodies. This leads to unhealthy diets and other methods of trying to achieve those looks. The more we get what real women look like out there, the better. "Each of the women use the gym for many different reasons; it is not about looking good but about feeling good. The gym has acted as a crutch as they each have known someone or lost someone who has battled cancer. We’ve built quite a little community where people feel safe and don’t feel judged. This is our way of helping support the amazing work of the Irish Cancer Society”.
The ladies who posed for the calendar were Louise Farrell, Aoife Gilbert, Fiona O'Connor, Fiona Doyle, Fiona Purcell, Sinead Connolly, Brenda Rice, Aileen Kelleher, Tina Growney, Avril Gorman, Lorna Carolan, Ailish Shaw, Collette Muldoon, Karen Tyrell, Mary McEvoy, Anna O’Neill, Niamh Murray, Jessica Erickson and Olivia O’Neill.
Their hair was done for the photoshoot by hairdresser to the stars, Keith Harris who has styled hair for Shania Twain, Pamela Anderson, Kate Moss, Julio Iglesias and Richard E Grant. Keith has been through his own cancer battle and was delighted to get involved.
Catherine McKeown was the make-up artists, while the photography was by Shaun Barry with assistant producers: Elaine Kelly and Dolly Purcell.
Olivia has been in the fitness industry for 13 years and her business in Athboy caters for a wide age range from teenagers to those in their seventies.
"I came into the fitness industry, with a history of being obese. I got the opportunity a few years ago to do some cancer rehab training - this involves exercises for people pre, during and after cancer treatment. A number of people who come to the gym have been treated for cancer."
The calendars retail at €20 and are available for postal delivery or alternatively collection if living locally.