A PEMBROKESHIRE model is helping to raise money for a cancer charity with the UK Calendar Girls competition.

Adeana Elaine, of Pembroke Dock, is competing to star in the official calendar, organised by UK Calendar Girls, who are supporting the Chestnut Appeal this year.

The modelling competition produces calendars each year, whilst also donating to and raising awareness for cancer-based charities at key events throughout the year, having supported various charities since 2006. Adeana is one of the nominees who are part of the text vote, which runs for a month, and from there the top 80 nominees are then invited to the Grand Final, where the guests vote for their top 12, that then get to feature on the calendar.

UK Calendar Girls said: “We are not a charity calendar, we are a modelling competition, however we raise funds using officially registered charity pots given to us by various charities at our events and we also donate 10% of ticket sales and calendar sales directly to our chosen charity.

“To date we’ve raised tens of thousands for cancer-based charities through the hard work and dedication of the team, the volunteers, the girls, and our amazing sponsors & supporters. We work very closely with our chosen charities and this year we are supporting the Chestnut Appeal who raise much-needed funds and awareness for prostate cancer.”

Lesley-Ann Simpson, the Charity Director for the Chestnut Appeal, said: “We are the Chestnut Appeal for Prostate Cancer and we have worked with the UK Calendar Girls team headed by Myles Lockwood since 2014 since the launch of the Plymouth Calendar Men competition. Very quickly we noticed the participants also had the opportunity to take part in many UKCG governed charity events they wouldn’t normally get involved in and this has had a direct effect on increasing our charity funds as well as creating widespread awareness for the Chestnut Appeal as a whole.

“For us it’s been amazing to see young people shine as their confidence grows through the various stages of the competition and how involved some of the girls become in the charity side of things. As well as improving lives by creating these wonderful calendars UKCG also raise much-needed awareness for the most common cancer in men; prostate cancer.

“The calendar projects have to date raised in excess of £7000 for us alone with many of the models raising funds individually to help our cause. With the funds and awareness this competition manages to create alongside raising money for many other cancer-based charities over the years we can only see great things coming from this organisation. We have noticed the team work on more than just glamorous calendars they also open doors for many aspiring models to meet inspirational people who work in the modelling industry as well as becoming noted by credible talent scouts.

“Over 47,000 men are diagnosed with the disease every year, that’s 129 men every day and every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer in the UK. Staggering statistics aren’t they, especially when current studies show less than 30% of men know where the prostate gland is, let alone what it does. The fundraising from the calendar girls has enabled us to supply state of the art medical equipment to hospitals which makes the diagnosis of prostate cancer faster and more accurate than ever before and has helped us raise much needed vital awareness in communities we might not have been able to reach before. We are indebted to Myles and his amazing team and it’s been a pleasure working with such professional people.”

To vote for Adeana, you need to text ‘UKCG 150’ to 82727, with each text costing £1 plus the standard network rate.