And they’re off!

CALENDAR girls featuring Cheryl Buckley

A BEVY of brave beauties touched by cancer have bared all — well nearly all — to pose as Macmillan calendar girls.

The 13 women all look in fine fettle in the calendar which is due to be unveiled on Royal Ascot Ladies Day.

The June 18 launch will take place at a charity event at Clough Manor, Denshaw.

And the 13 fillies who feature on the calendar will be dressed in their finery to meet punters who will be the first to buy a copy and get the fundraising under way.

The women who range from 32 to 76, all pose with glamorous hats and accessories to rival the best-dressed at the famous ladies race day.

The idea was that of holistic therapist Beverley Heap and Clough Manor’s managing director Alan Tupman.

They put their heads together to come up with a fundraising idea and plan to take the borough by storm when they reveal the stunning outcome.

Beverley said: “All the women on the calendar have a link with cancer, some closer than others, but everyone has been picked for a reason.”

Beverley is a volunteer therapist at Oldham Cancer Support Centre, through which she met most of her calendar girls.

She said: “Many have inspirational stories to tell, like Cheryl, on the front cover.

“She had breast cancer three years ago, and had chemotherapy and lost all her hair. To see her as she is now on the calendar is wonderful.”

Bubbly Beverley (Miss November) added: “I lost my best friend, Catherine Hanson, to cancer four years ago, and that set me on the road to working with cancer patients.

“Catherine’s husband Stuart’s company, Hanson Thorpe, sponsored the printing costs.

“And Miss June is Rita Bottomley, from Oldham’s Link4Pink appeal. She is on the calendar because a family friend had cancer.

“Kath Kay (Miss February) has a son with cancer who I treat at the cancer support centre, and my mother, Mary Montgomery (Miss April) is the oldest at the age of 76, and looks amazing.

The ambitious fundraisers ordered a 1,000 print of the calendar for starters, and every penny from the £9.99 charge will go to Macmillan.

Beverley (55), of Greenfield, said: “Everyone has given their time for free — from the photographer Gaynor Wilson from Grin & Bare It to Jayne Mulqueen, from Diggle, who makes hats and hires them out.”