Charity says 'no' to saucy calendar

The calendar is expected to raise £4,000

A charity has lost out on a possible £4,000, because it refuses to be associated with a risqué calendar.

Members of the Shrewsbury Amateur Operatic Society wanted the proceeds from their calendar to go to a local cancer charity for children, which helped the son of two of its members.

But the charity has refused to be associated with the project, which shows society members posing for raunchy versions of well-known musicals.

The society said it had expected to raise thousands of pounds for the Lingen Davies Rainbow Appeal.

Exposed

Four-year-old Theo Hayeck, whose parents are both members of the operatic society, has spent the last two years fighting cancer in his eyes.

Theo has spent the last two years fighting cancer

Theo's mother Wendy said the society produced the calendar to show its support for the charity which helped him.

"Members of the society mentioned they wanted to do something for Theo and raise funds by way of support for all that we've gone through," Mrs Hayeck said.

"Three members came up with the idea of doing an anniversary calendar along the lines of the Women's Institute."

Cautious side

But the Shropshire-based charity has refused to be associated with the calendar and have its name on the front of it.

Eryl Williams from the Lingen Davies Rainbow Appeal said: "You have to be very careful what you associate children with.

"It may be on the cautious side but that's the decision we've made."

Fiona Hankin from the operatic society said it was a shame because they wanted to give the charity some money.

"It is a children's charity and they've got to be careful but we were very careful that we had strategically placed pots and plants so there was nothing on show."

Instead the money will be donated to the national charity Retinoblastoma Society, set up to fight eye cancer in children.