A Llanwrtyd Wells B&B owner has taken an unusual route to combatting the challenges of the coronavirus lockdown by joining with a group of friends to produce a very unusual calendar for 2021.

Bernice Benton is well known in the area not only as a business owner but also as the local Monster Raving Loony Party candidate Lady Lily the Pink and since lockdown began has been working on improving the service she offers to guests at her B&B in the town but also to help vulnerable and isolated people within the community through phone calls and shopping on their behalf.

"Community is everything, and throughout this lockdown people have been amazing," said Bernice.

"Seeing this I started wondering what will happen in 2021 when I imagine we will all be looking back to this time and wondering what we did and how we overcame and remembering those who didn’t 

"Thinking about this, I and a group of very brave friends, are producing a ’Calendar Girls’ inspired 2021 calendar of our activities during Lockdown.

"Twenty-four, fun and tasteful images, taken from our individual locations of self isolation and turned into a message of body positivity in the form of a 2021 calendar to raise money for mental health charity Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation," explained Bernice.

"We are a mixed group of men and women aged from 23- 75, of all shapes and sizes who all dealing with our own demons, health and mental health issues. 

"We have all stepped outside our comfort zone and found joy , liberation and empowerment through first taking our photos, and then sharing them, initially amongst our small group and, shortly, with you all. 

"Some of us have survived potentially life threatening and life changing illnesses (both physical and mental) many of us have battled with body image issues, some of us have written about our challenges and all of us want to help better people’s mental wellbeing and promote body positivity.  Hence we have chosen BDD Foundation as the beneficiary of our own self development and achievement.

"Our models include our mayor, local business owners, Loony party members, retirees, paramedics, some of the Llanwrtyd sewists, ex forces... we are a very diverse group.  Our oldest model has recovered from pancreatic cancer, four hip operations and several life threatening infections in his hip.  Another is a survivor of sexual abuse by a stepparent throughout her childhood-we each have our story," said Bernice.

The idea for the calendar was first born back at the start of May on World Naked Gardening Day when photograph was taken of Bernice hard at work in her garden

"I love the Hilda paintings by Duane Bryers but I’ve never liked my body. I’m scarred all over from various incidents, accidents and self harm.  I’m 53, two stone heavier than before children with saggy boobs from breast feeding and saggy everything else from gravity and time! 

"Twenty years ago I would have never left the house or invited anyone in without full makeup.  I can’t even have imagined a day when I would have written these things down, voiced them out loud or shared such an exposed part of myself. Yet here I am.. Just one of 24 very different journeys, learning to love myself, seeing my body as a miracle for surviving its journey so far," said Bernice

While the calendar is yet to be formatted and go to print the group is hoping to receive donations and preorders whilst members work on collating the images. All profits will go to the BDD foundation  which has endorsed the project

"People can make any size donation. Every £1 is gratefully received.  They can donate via paypal directly to me £12 will include the postage and packaging or they can donate via our go fund me page where  for every £10  they donate we will reserve one calendar.  I will compile a database and, on printing, will ask for a postal address and  the postage fee," she explained

To read more about the real trials of living with BDD take a look at the charity website at bddfoundation.org 

The team’s Go Fund Me page can be found at Sharing Body Positivity for BDD Foundation organised by Berni Benton.

You can donate and reserve calendars by visiting www.paypal.me/bernicerdynvilla