Christie's family bare all in her memory

The parents and friends of two high-profile victims have joined together to make a fundraising calendar.

Christie Marceau was stabbed to death in a frenzied attack in her Auckland home on November 7 last year by a youth who had been released on bail after kidnapping and assaulting her two months earlier. Christie died in her the arms of her mother, Tracey.

Mrs Marceau and her husband, Brian, knew this week's first anniversary of Christie's brutal death would be painful, but they were determined to do something positive to remember her.

So they got together with family and close friends and decided to publish a calendar of very personal black and white nude photos in Christie's memory.

"Victims are stripped bare of their emotions. This is why we chose our nude theme," Mrs Marceau told the Weekend Herald. "It displays vulnerability but also that we are prepared to be seen and heard. The calendar is absolutely beautiful. It is not only a symbol of love, but also courage. Several of us in the calendar have had personal dealings with violence and have lost so much trust, so to be able to participate in this project and be prepared to be seen took a lot of strength."

The calendar goes on sale tomorrow at the official launch of the Christie Marceau Charitable Trust. All funds raised will be used by the trust to help other young New Zealanders fulfil their dreams.

Christie's sister, Heather, features in the calendar, alongside other family and friends including Rebecca Templeman, whose daughter Liberty was murdered in 2008. Mrs Templeman and her husband, Andrew, have become close friends and supporters of the Marceaus.

Each month portrays a special meaning to the model. Mr and Mrs Marceau chose April for Christie's birthday and Mrs Templeman chose November, the month Liberty died. Christie and Liberty shared a birthday - they would have both turned 19 on April 16 this year - and both died in November.

"The photos are beautifully tasteful and we are so proud of them. I thought the calendar would be a lovely way of keeping Christie's memory alive," Mrs Marceau said. "It was a little daunting once we got to the day of the shoot, but it was all done in one day and it was a truly perfect day. For a brief moment Brian, Heather and I were able to enjoy life as normal."

Family friend Janine LeCocq, who helped organise the calendar, said she felt immense pride over the project.

Mrs Marceau said the trust had been set up to carry on Christie's vision of helping people and forging a successful career for herself. She was studying event management at university and wanted to run her own company.

"It is also a way to acknowledge the support and love we have received in a positive way. It is a way of remembering Christie for who she was and not what happened to her."

Email: christiesangels2012@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/TheChristieMarceauCharitableTrust