Published: Friday, 20th August, 2010 4:15pm

Birr Tesco launches charity calendar

Tesco staff with the Irish Cancer Society's Corporate Partnership Co-ordinator, Elaine Gillespie and D'Unbelievables Comedian Jon Kenny. Front (l-r): Lisa Guilfoyle, Madeleine Maher, Elaine Gillespie, Sara Rylott, Tara & Cynthia McNamara. Back (l-r): Philip Guilfoyle, Simon Beale, John Compton, Debbie Sharpe, Jon Kenny, Linda Maloney, Luke Ryan, Michael Keane.

The staff of Birr Tesco have launched a 'Naughty but Nice' calendar in aid of Irish Cancer Society.

They aim to raise over €30,000 for their chosen 'Charity of the Year'. Inspired by the film 'Calendar Girls', the 'Naughty but Nice' calendar was launched this week by D'Unbelievables comedian Jon Kenny at a reception at Kinnitty Castle.

More than 120 people attended the launch and over €1,000 was raised on the night from calendar sales and a raffle of prizes kindly donated by local businesses and individuals. Madeleine Maher, Tesco Birr's 'Charity of the Year' Champion said: "The calendar has cost us nothing to produce thanks to all of our sponsors and the generous donation of time and services from the local community. In particular we couldn't have done this without Kinnitty Castle, where the calendar photoshoot took place and hosted the calendar launch, and Jim Troy of the Thurles Camera Club who took all of the pictures and edited them free of charge." Jim O'Malley, Corporate Partnerships Manager, Irish Cancer Society thanked all the staff of Tesco and the support they received from the local community. The 'Naughty but Nice' calendar will be available to purchase for €10 at Tesco Birr, Kinnitty Castle and other outlets in Birr. All the money raised from calendar sales will go towards the national rollout of the Irish Cancer Society 'Care to Drive' programme, a volunteer transportation service for cancer patients.