CHARD’S own Calendar Girls project, which expanded to a group of 48 people, dished out over £12,000 to cancer charities at the weekend.

Launched last year, the team of brave people who have either survived cancer, are undergoing treatment, or have family members affected by the illness, have seen the success of their charity calendar spiral.

Initially a group of eight agreed to strip bare for the publication but as time went on the group grew and a print run of 200 had to be increased to 1,000.

On Saturday, the total of £12,002 was split between the Breast Cancer Campaign and Cancer Research UK charities.

The journey has taken them from a photography studio in the centre of Chard to stripping live on national TV as part of Channel 4’s Stand Up to Cancer coverage, culminating in the main reason for it all – raising a substantial amount of cash for charity.

Local photographer Hayley Lynch, who has been described as “the glue” who has held the project together, says she is overwhelmed with the support from local people.

She said: “It was amazing to be able to finally hand over the money after so much work.

“It was a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

“We’ve had sponsorshop from local businesses and the support from local people has been brilliant, and I want to thank each and every person who has had some sort of involvement.

“I’m elated – it’s such a huge amount for us to raise and be able to help in some way the next person to receive a diagnosis.

“The group all met by accident, but they all became friends by choice and there are a lot of friends for life.

“We even had our own calendar romance where a couple met at our launch and are now living together!

“The group has become a bit of a security blanket for people going through rough times with cancer, and that will continue with our support group, which we hold on Sundays at the Forefront Community Centre in Chard to help and talk to people about what they’re going through.”