Pin-up guys
Hospital foundation selling calendars featuring brawny and bearded Capers in kilts
What a sight!
A Cape Breton fundraiser is bringing brawny and bearded men in kilts together for a 12month calendar.
The project is a fundraiser for the Northside/harbourview Hospital Foundation to help purchase a $140,000 digital detector for an existing X-ray machine.
Foundation executive director Terri Dennis said the idea for the project was discussed for a couple of years.
“With fundraising dollars diminishing and more causes to support, the foundation had to think of something new for the Northside,” said Dennis.
“It was actually (photographer) John Ratchford who came up with the Celtic Warrior because beards are so prevalent right now.”
“And so, because Celtic Warriors are strong people and we’re Cape Bretoners — it just tied together so nicely.”
Dennis and board member Frances Macdougall said a call was sent out to local men who might fit the warrior-like build.
“No one said no to us,” said Macdougall when asked about picking volunteers.
The 12-month calendar now features 17 men modelling kilts and carrying weapons such as ancient swords and axes.
One of the models, Duane Jessome, works at Northside General as the manager of its emergency department, ambulatory care and other units.
Jessome grew his typically short beard for four months to get into character for the project.
“I knew it was going toward a worthwhile cause,” said the father of five. “How could I say no?”
But Jessome had no idea until he showed up at the photo shoot that he would only be wearing a kilt and a sash.
“It was off of my normal things to do,” he said. “Terri took the hairspray out and started spraying my beard so it would puff up, and she put some eyeliner and makeup on me — eyeliner has never been on this face.”
Macdougall said their purchase of the digital detector will allow doctors to view an X-ray within seconds.
“It reduces the radiation the patients are exposed to by 66 per cent – so that’s huge,” said Dennis.
Dennis and Macdougall are reminding Northside residents that just because the provincial government has announced plans to close their hospital, IT doesn’t mean the need for primary care items no longer exists.
They say fundraising dollars are being spent on equipment that is moveable and will find new homes outside the hospital when the time comes.
As part of the project, North Sydney residents Elaine and Fred Macleod donated a sword to the photo shoot, while officials with The Gaelic College in St. Ann’s loaned out a replica axe and all the kilts that were worn.
Ratchford Photographic also donated the time and skill needed to capture the striking images.
Hospital foundation members say, to date, they have received calendar orders from as far away as Western Canada.
Calendars can be purchased at the foundation’s office inside the hospital, near admitting on Purves Street. They are also available in North Sydney at Treasures on the Waterfront and at Gillis Seafood fish market.
They can also be ordered online at http://northsidehospitalfoundation.ca/
Cost per calendar is $20.