By Lindy Laird It took raw nerve for 12 Northland men to expose their sensitive sides in a cheeky little fundraiser.
They're hoping they won't become the butt of jokes when the Northland Cystic Fibrosis Association's 2008 calendar is launched on Saturday during a champagne-and-nibbles boat cruise in the Bay of
Islands, organised by project managers Athalae Elliott and Sarah Millwater.
Each page of the calender features stunning North scenery, and a naked man doing the kind of things he'd normally be found doing with his clothes on.
The men are not models, but fathers, friends and other supporters of families affected by cystic fibrosis. "Northland men doing Northland things - a dairy farmer, fisherman, horse riding on the beach ..." Mrs Elliott said.
"Regular people doing regular things who have stepped out of their comfort zone for a fantastic cause. This is a fantastic opportunity to support Northland and Northlanders at their best."
But while the calendar exposes a lighter side of CF support, the naked truth is the disease puts children with it and their families under extreme pressure.
Mrs Elliott's husband John (Mr October) said the association tried to lighten that load. Funds raised by the group through family and fun-oriented means go toward financial assistance, phone cards for children in hospital and nebulisers for them to use at home, along with other help.
One of the Elliotts' three children, Mac, six, has CF, as have both children of Mrs Millwater and her husband Dave, aka Mr July.
• Calendars can be bought from Hell Pizza or Office Max in Whangarei, or ordered through John Elliott, (021) 795-091. Far North contact is Sarah Millwater, (021) 059-5639.
