CALENDAR GIRLS Donates £500,000 to Cancer Research

When the ladies of Rylstone Women's Institute came up with the idea of stripping off for a charity calendar back in 1998 they had no idea they would spark a global phenomenon. Now, just over ten years on, they have filled more column inches than they can count, been the subject of a smash hit movie and the record breaking stage production which is currently touring the UK after a triumphant run in London's West End.

 Their alternative WI calendar caused a media frenzy ten years ago. Since then, the ladies have continued to work tirelessly for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. It has been announced today that they have now raised an astonishing £3 million for the blood cancer charity. Over £500,000 of this has been as a direct result of the stage production which has funded a unique new research project run by Leukaemia & Lymphoma Reseach at St James' Hospital, Leeds. A large portion of profits have been donated by the show's producers David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers and author Tim Firth. Local volunteers from Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research have also been at all performances selling Calendar Girls merchandise.

 Angela Baker, Tricia Stewart, Ros Fawcett and Lynda Logan, four of the original Calendar Girls along with Lynda's husband Terry who took the photographers for the calendar, will be attending the opening night of CALENDAR GIRLS at the Theatre Royal Brighton on Monday 29 November to celebrate their remarkable fundraising efforts.

 They will be joined by the show's author Tim Firth and the current cast which includes Lynda Bellingham, Jan Harvey, Michelle Collins, Debbie Chazen, June Watson and Ruth Madoc.

 Calendar Girls will tour for the very last time in 2012 opening at the Bristol Hippodrome on Wednesday 26 January. Lynda Bellingham returns to the show with a brand new set of Calendar Girls including Jennifer Ellison, Trudie Goodwin, Danielle Lineker, Ruth Madoc, Diana Moran, BErnie Nolan, Lisa Riley and Gwen Taylor with Bruno Langley as Lawrence the photographer and Joe McGann as John. For a full tour schedule visit www.seecalendargirls.com