Pinups STRIP for a good cause (Do you actually need a reason?)

Ok, by now you know this is the kind of stuff I have lots of fun with....and always with a little bawdiness from this middle-aged gal! The Girls of Franklin County have taken it all off in a charming, provocative and artful way, and you just gotta love it. It is for the best of causes, to raise funds and awareness for Breast Cancer screening by making certain that every woman in the county can afford to have screening and early detection at the new mammogram equipment at Weems Hospital in Apalachicola.

Some of these women who banded together for this fund-raising effort are breast cancer survivors themselves. THE FORGOTTEN COAST CLASSICS calendar for 2009, based on the British movie "THE CALENDAR GIRLS", was created where more than a dozen local broads agreed to be photographed "au naturel" for the cause.

This is so COOL! The funds they are raising through this calendar are being used for local education and awareness, to cover the costs of mammograms for underinsured patients and to provide transportation to Weems for those who don't drive or can't find a ride. No more excuses for going without early detection through mammograms!

The hospital has already sent two radiation technicians off for training and images can now be sent via telemedicine to be read, then, if possible growths, immediately referred to oncologists in either Panama City or Tallahassee.

The calendar photography is as professional as I've seen anywhere. Susan Bull, noted artist and photographer who lives back and forth in Cape San Blas and Atlanta, completed the series of gorgeous and flattering photographs as her contribution to the fundraiser. This is an enormous contribution of her high level talents.

"It was all collaborative," said Bull. "These are very interesting women who have valuable lives, a lot to offer, and unique personalities."

I agree, knowing several of the lovelies. These local "models" (a genteel alternative to my term "BROADS" because I be bawdy) look fantastic! And while not one of these gutsy ladies actually got "naked", I can honestly tell you that I would not have had the nerve to pose like this is my present incarnation of pulchritude, so applause to them all.

The Calendar Girls will be seen on a float in Saturday's Florida Seafood Festival in downtown Apalachicola, the same parade through town that will feature the "Pinki-mobile" as her race for County Commission finally comes to a close as does the longest election season I've ever experienced in my adult life please let there not be another political ad, commentary, email or talking head for another two years, and the SeaSide Village-mobile, all of which will be tossing beads to the teeming crowd.

The calendar is beautifully created and is worth every bit of the $20 that is a deductible donation through their 501C3 non-profit. Please send your $20 check, or additional contributions to: Franklin Needs, Inc. at 55 S. Bayshore Drive, Eastpoint, Fl 32328. Tell them Judy's Blog sent you.