I've Been Asked to Take the Images for a Charity Calendar

The Leicester Mercury last night featured this article on the subject.

Coach crew dare to bare

A crew of coach drivers and backroom staff are stripping off for charity.

The men and women are hoping to raise up to £9,000 through sales of a saucy calendar.

Burbage photographer Christina Lauder has taken a series of pictures of staff stripped off but with strategically placed items covering their modesty.

Money raised from sales will be shared between the air ambulance and the Hathern Dog Rescue charity.

Julie Johnson. of Hugglescote firm Roberts Coaches, said: "We are hoping to raise in excess of £5,000. If, however, we can sell 2,000 calendars we could possibly reach £9,000."

Miss Johnson, who has posed for one of the pictures, said: "I have managed to get some of our coach drivers to get into the spirit of the cause and I have been overwhelmed by the support, so much so that we are having to have a second day shooting photos."

Transport manager Geoff Cox was one of the first to take his clothes off for the calendar.

He said: "I was reluctant at first but it's for charity and Julie can be very persuasive.

"Some of the drivers were not too keen at first. But in the end, they quite enjoyed getting their kit off for charity."

Miss Lauder said: "I was delighted to offer my services when Julie contacted me."

Coach driver Andy Williamson is one of the crew yet to be photographed.

He said: "It is a bit of a laugh and it's for two good causes.

"Quite a few of the lads have agreed to strip off for the camera."

The calendars will be priced at about £5 and will go on sale in August.

Sue Fairbrother, of Hathern Dog Rescue, said: "We depend on donations and we really appreciate the support we have received from Roberts Coaches over the years. I hope the calendars prove popular. It will help us continue our service of re-homing strays and other dogs with no homes."

Catherine Foster, fund-raiser for Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance said: "I would like to thank the team for all their fund-raising efforts.

"It is always good to see the different, innovative ways that the community supports the air ambulance and keep us flying.

"As a registered charity, we receive no Government or Lottery funding and it costs us over £1.5 million a year to keep operational and rescuing people. We, therefore, rely on fundraising activities like this to keep on saving lives."

I'd just like to say thanks to Julie Johnson, from Roberts Coaches (http://www.robertsholidays.co.uk/) for inviting me to take part in this exciting project. I can't wait to see the finished article.

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Christina Lauder Portraits

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