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West Berkshire’s ‘calendar guys and gals’ bare all for Newbury Cancer Care




West Berkshire’s very own ‘Calendar Girls’ have returned with another nude charity calendar. And this time they’re back with the boys.

The ‘Hope Strength and Courage: Guys and Gals’ calendar for Newbury Cancer Care debuted last year thanks to Thatcham woman Karen de Monte.

The 2023 calendar picture: Hope Strength and Courage
The 2023 calendar picture: Hope Strength and Courage

Mrs de Monte introduced the idea in 2021 in a bid to raise money for cancer in memory of her father Tony Deacon.

She teamed up with graphic designer Sarah Carrek and their first calendar – featuring 40 local women – raised around £7,000.

Like many of the participants, Mrs de Monte has received support from Newbury Cancer Care – including when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Karen with her late father Tony Deacon, picture: Hope Strength and Courage
Karen with her late father Tony Deacon, picture: Hope Strength and Courage

This year’s calendar drew in around 45 participants and was launched on Friday, July 28 at Newbury’s Royal British Legion.

“The launch was amazing,” she said. “I could not have asked for a better evening.

The models in their dressing gowns at the shoot, picture: Hope Strength and Courage
The models in their dressing gowns at the shoot, picture: Hope Strength and Courage

“The first calendar was great but this one was even better.

“It lovely to have several new people this time. They came to me saying they had seen the last one and they loved it and were inspired by it.”

The models first posed in dressing gowns to get comfortable and understand what they needed to do and then the photographer, Andre Hellman, left the room while they took robes off, got back into position and were photo ready.

April, picture: Hope Strength and Courage
April, picture: Hope Strength and Courage

Mrs de Monte added: “Anyone could do it regardless of their age, shape and sex; they were made to feel welcome and there was of course no body shaming.

“If they were not happy they didn’t have to carry on but no one backed out.”

Breast cancer survivor of eight years and calendar model Kathryn Wakelyn – who lost her brother to the disease and whose sister has also experienced cancer – got involved with the hope of sending an inspirational message to her daughter, who has disabilities.

The girls in the second edition of the Hope Stregnth and Courage calendar, picture: Hope Strength and Courage
The girls in the second edition of the Hope Stregnth and Courage calendar, picture: Hope Strength and Courage

She said: “I wanted her to experience how empowering the calendar makes you feel.

“That together we can make a massive difference by raising funds and supporting others.

“But for now, my personal journey I've made some amazing friendships for which I'm eternally grateful.”

June, picture: Hope Strength and Courage
June, picture: Hope Strength and Courage

Another breast cancer survivor – four years clear – said she “jumped” at the opportunity to appear in the calendar.

“I am so proud to have participated twice now but also to have made some fantastic, lifelong friends,” said Sinead Coombes.

She had kidney cancer five years ago and said she always wanted to appear in such a calendar but “never in a million years” thought she would.

Karen de Monte (left) with members of the group, picture: Hope Strength and Courage
Karen de Monte (left) with members of the group, picture: Hope Strength and Courage

“I have done two now and I'm so glad I have,” she added.

“Not only have we raised thousands for charity but I've met some lovely people and a handful of them are now lifelong friends.”

Mayor of Thatcham with the calendar models, picture: John Boyd
Mayor of Thatcham with the calendar models, picture: John Boyd

Battling body confidence issues was also a motive for Chris Hart. He said: “Although I was nervous, I was more determined to do it to help raise money for some great causes.

“Battling myself was secondary but helping others was primary.”

Group members have now become lifelong friends, picture: Hope Strength and Courage
Group members have now become lifelong friends, picture: Hope Strength and Courage

A lot of “hard work and giggles” went into the making of the calendar said another model, Jo Britton.

Model Megan Styles took part this year after losing her sister who appeared in the last calendar.

She said: “Never in a million years did I think I'd have the courage to do something like this.

The models have become friends since joining the group, picture: Hope Strength and Courage
The models have become friends since joining the group, picture: Hope Strength and Courage

“But when I lost my sister, who participated in the last calendar, after an extremely short battle with stomach cancer, I knew I wanted to do it in her memory.”

Mara Louise joined when the group needed someone to fill in and said she had “no reservations” in doing so and will help in any way she can in the future.

She said: “My partner volunteered to help with doing the men's shoot.

“We then found out his daughter had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

August, picture: Hope Strength and Courage
August, picture: Hope Strength and Courage

“My grandmother died of bladder cancer 43 years ago, treatment was very different then.

“Unbeknown to myself, my younger brother was also going through tests at the time of the shoots.

“At the end of May he was diagnosed with lung cancer very close to his heart.

“Treatment has started, and we are hoping this will help him.”

Ruth Friend also lost a close loved one to cancer.

She said: “My mother was diagnosed with brain tumours that had turned cancerous in 2005.

“The doctors gave her six months from diagnosis, but she hung on for two years.

“It was a harrowing time as she was only 62 when she died.

“She had just retired and was planning great adventures with my stepfather – she never got to.”

She added: “Live life for the moment.”

This isn’t the first charity initiative Mrs de Monte has been involved in. She’s been an active fundraiser since the pandemic began, working on Miles of Pennies and Joining Together.

So far she has raised around £27,000 and has hopes of opening a new Rainbow Room at West Berkshire Community Hospital – where her father spent the last week of his life.

She said: “My dad was a great man who always encouraged me and my brothers and sisters to make the most of our lives.”

The ‘Hope Strength and Courage’ calendar can be bought by contacting Karen de Monte on the Hope Strength and Courage Facebook page here https://tinyurl.com/4s5yztvb

Mrs de Monte will also be selling them at Thatcham’s car boot sale on Sunday and putting them in local shops in and around town.



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