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What the doctor ordered - a Calendar Girls' take-off

THEY may be more used to keeping blood pressures down, but staff at a doctors' surgery are set to send pulses racing as part of a fund-raising drive.

Receptionists, the practice nurse and even the practice manager have stripped down to the bare essentials for a calendar to raise cash for the Stockport-based When You Wish Upon A Star charity and their own practice.

The women, average age 46, were inspired by the movie Calendar Girls.

Their own version - in which they preserve their modesty behind patients' notes, reference books and syringe bins - will go on sale across the region within days.

Kath Longden, practice manager at the Birchwood Medical Centre, Warrington, who came up with the idea, said: "It was the film that inspired me - I just thought if they can do it so can we. And we have thoroughly enjoyed it.

"We had to make sure that any pictures didn't pull down the reputation of the practice and that the pictures were tasteful - and they are really nice.

"My daughter is disgusted because she can't believe middle-aged women actually want to take their clothes off. But just because you reach a certain age doesn't mean you are past it."

There was no shortage of volunteers willing to pose for the camera.

Practice nurse Julie Epstein, 52, admitted: "It's a great idea - and we have had a good laugh.

Kath said: "We decided to do it because there was a charity ball being organised this month by a patient for the centre and the When You Wish Upon a Star charity.

"We knew we could support the ball by buying tickets - but we wanted to do something more so we could also raise a substantial amount."

Bosses at When You Wish Upon a Star are delighted - and they expect to be pinning a few of the calendars on the walls of their own Stockport offices.

Fund-raising manager Maria Moseley said: "This is absolutely fantastic. They know the work that we do, but this is so generous of them. They will know the money will be well spent and we are grateful".

The money raised for the charity will be used to help make dreams come true for children who have life threatening illnesses or who are terminally ill and their families.

The charity is just days away from the annual highlight, which is a plane trip to Finland where youngsters meet Father Christmas with their families and stars from Coronation Street.

They are also planning a trip to EuroDisney next year, but many projects may involve individuals meeting their favourite pop star or footballer or the provision of a computer.

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Those who buy this calendar for the titillating reason of seeing older ladies getting their kit off may well be satisfied with some of the bare flesh - but isn't it all going a bit far. Everyone is doing this now and it's no longer that interesting. The practises' charitable endevours would be best channeled to coffee mornings etc. That way all of us would be spared the awkwardness of all of this. I don't really want my medical records to be used to shield their private parts. Let's face it, the idea is no longer original, money making or in good taste. What will be next - lap dancing for charity!

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As patients of the medical centre my wife and I have our copy of the calendar and I personally think that it is tastefully presented. I also think that It was a brilliant idea, it may not be original but if it works lets face it the girls will probably make 1 to possibly 2k with this venture, I wonder if john can tell me where would he make this sort of money doing coffee mornings etc. it's for a very good cause and I take my hat off to all the staff that took part in this venture well done

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THE WONDERFUL STAFF AT BIRCHWOOD MEDICAL CENTRE AT WARRINGTON HAVE MANAGED TO RAISE B#1,500 FROM THE SALE OF THEIR CALANDERS. WELL DONE GIRLS YOU WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE HELD A HELL OF A LOT OF COFFEE MORNINGS TO GET THAT SORT OF MONEY

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WELL THESE GORGEOUS GIRLS HAVE ALMOST HIT B#5000 MARK WELL DONE BIRCHWOOD MEDICAL CENTRE STAFF

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