Cheeky charity calendar
THE CHEEKY Busy Bees charity calendar, produced by fundraising stalwarts Wayne and Des Bellamy-Wright, is about to hit the stands. I believe the first edition was published in 2015, but there would have been a 'pandemic break' between then and now, rudely interrupting production and demand.
The 2024 calendar is currently in the final stages of design and should be off to the printers soon, in order to be on sale by the end of June - still priced at €10.
Each month features a local business, good cause or charity and it will come as no surprise that both Wayne and Des are featured - Wayne for Project4All and Des for Busy Bees Benidorm, the charity they set up to support around 120 children aged from eight to 18, in one of 10 children's homes in the area - although you will have to wait and buy one to see which month and 'prop' they appear with.
On Tuesday I attended the photo shoot for 'November' - a very appropriate month for the chosen participants, as we all know that November means 'poppies'.
Remembrance Sunday falls on the second Sunday of November, and that can only mean one thing! Yes, the Royal British Legion Benidorm and District Branch, or RBL as most abbreviate it to, are featured with strategically placed poppies! And I certainly wasn’t the only ‘media’ around – the whole event was being filmed for a new series of Channel 5’s Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun!
Chair of the branch, Diane Findlay-Craig, had great support from members, including that of 90-year-old Korean War veteran Headley Sleep - who turns 91 on June 22 - and his wife Frances.
Just last weekend, Diane, accompanied by husband Jim and district chairman Jack Kemp, travelled to Torquay in the UK for the RBL's Annual Conference, having been nominated by the district to receive the McCrae Shield, 'awarded to an overseas branch that can demonstrate compliance and has not only supported its members and beneficiaries during the past year, but has also positively promoted The Royal British Legion within its District or wider community'.
The venue changes every year, last year it was in London and next year it will be in Wales. Around 800 people attended, and the three-day conference was live-streamed around the world. There are around 2,500 branches worldwide and a new one has just opened in Madrid. In January, the branch was also awarded first prize for 'The Chairman's Bugle' by Spain District North, so look out and see if you can spot the instrument in the photo.
Diane was very humbled and obviously honoured to receive the award on behalf of the branch and all its members.
She certainly didn't hesitate to commit to the calendar, and neither did the members.
She asked them to think carefully and get back to her, but many volunteered on the spot. After all, it's for a very good cause and, as in previous years, Wayne will probably donate the proceeds to other worthy causes, such is his caring and unselfish nature to spread the love and goodwill of everyone's generosity.
This year 2,000 calendars will be printed, hopefully raising €20,000, as Gary Burr of Giving4Giving has kindly offered to pay for the printing of the calendars, which will be done by Ian Platt of The Print Shop.
Well done to all involved for helping to raise money for a worthy cause, especially in these difficult economic times.
Also don’t forget that a week on Sunday, June 4 the Save My Life fundraiser afternoon is taking place at Benidorm Palace – only €10 for an entire afternoon of entertainment… and if the weather continues like this, it will be great to be indoors and out of this rain!