Yummy mums peel off for cancer charity calendar

Eleven women from Cassington, Eynsham and Freeland, near Witney, stripped off and were snapped in a variety of nude poses in the hope of raising around £10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

In scenes reminiscent of the hit film Calendar Girls, in which a Women’s Institute group strip off for charity, sales of the £10 collection of snaps look set to top £50,000 as orders fly in from places as far flung as Spain and Saudi Arabia.

The Yummy Mummy Macmillan 2010 Calendar, is being officially launched on Friday Mother-of-two Hannah Dunn, 38, from Freeland, said she first started fundraising for Macmillan after her grandmother was nursed through cancer.

She said: “I had the idea for the shoot after watching Calendar Girls.

“Something went click, and I realised we could really do this. I rang a few friends, obviously I was very selective, and got some people together. I don’t think anyone thought we would actually go through with it.”

The calendar was shot at Mrs Dunn’s house and at historic Eynsham Hall. The Yummy Mummy name came from Mrs Dunn’s husband, Andrew.

Though, She added: “I think he was a bit daunted by lots of women turning up at the door in their skimpy dressing gowns.”

Dawn Mills, 42, of Freeland, is featured as Miss February with only a strategically placed mixing bowl and sash to preserve her modesty.

The mother-of-two, whose father and uncle both had cancer, said: “It was a bit nerve wracking.

“But stripping off and showing a few lumps, bumps and extra curves is nothing compared to the bravery of someone who has gone through a mastectomy or had radiotherapy.”

The launch coincides with the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, a campaign by Macmillan to get as many people as possible to host their own fundraising events.

BBC Oxford presenter Wesley Smith will unveil a large version of the calendar at the Methodist and Village Hall in Freeland at noon on Friday.

Last year’s Coffee Morning raised £90,000 in Oxfordshire.