Coronado Assettes Release Their Calendar Benefiting Colon Cancer Research

It all started at a party in Coronado, Panama where Sandy Heidemann and a friend were joking and talking about how crazy it would be to do a ‘nudie’ calendar, something similar to what the ladies did in England.  They had a good laugh and the project never got off the ground until …  Sandy started thinking  about  various charities that could benefit from such an undertaking.  She also started thinking abut how cancer was in some way affecting everyone around her, loved ones, family or friends. Sandy rounded up a few girlfriends, invited them for lunch and convinced them that they could make a difference.  So it was then decided to start speaking to others to recruit ladies that would join them on their journey.

There had to be rules, everyone had to be over 50 and look directly into the camera to show their support but most of all, to have fun.  So there was born the Coronado Assettes.

The core group, Sandy, Bonnie, and Louise started coordinating the project.  First step, they needed someone to join them and take the photographs.  Luck would have it that Jamuna Burry, who heads playacommunity.com, was taking photography classes and welcomed the opportunity to work on this undertaking.  Loaded with her enthusiasm, camera, lenses, computer, a multitude of wires, lights and whatever equipment she had, the project was launched.

Each lady decided on what would be their pose.  There was always a group on hand to cheer them on as well as lend moral support.  A few ideas did not work, such as doing a ‘Lady Godiva’ pose.  It was a rainy day, it started to thunder and the extremely large horse was getting jittery.  Bonnie could barely hold on.  Everyone had this vision that the newspaper would soon be reporting:  Naked woman found dead, hit by lightning, long blond wig found on site!  It was then decided to go home and try something else.

Louise was to lie in a hot tub with flowers and jets going, but due to buoyancy problems, that idea got thrown out, even though it was suggested that she uses Kathy’s, an avid scuba diver’s weight belt!

Many hours later, scouting locations, ideas, numerous poses, mishaps, bad takes and unbridled laughter, a selection of 12 pictures were decided upon to make the calendar what it is today.   The result is a collection of photos of ladies that collaborated together and shared new found friendships and real bonding to benefit others.

All profits of the sale of the calendar will go to the Cancer Society with a special request that the funds go to combat Colon Cancer Research.   Colon cancer hits particularly close to home.  One of the Assettes  is fortunate enough to have recently received a clean bill of health following a long struggle.  Another lost her mom to this terrible affliction.

Right off the press, the 2010 calendar is now available for purchase.  Please help the Coronado Assettes succeed in their quest and raise money that is greatly needed to fight cancer.  Calendars are $10. each and are available at Mailbox  Etc. in Coronado,  at the new offices of playacommunity.com (behind the Chef restaurant), at the CSA Coronado Craft and Bake Sale on November 14th or can be ordered by  or e-mail coronadoassettes@live.ca . 

N.B.:  Talk has started to perhaps have a male calendar next year!