By battlefordsNOW

Rockette calendar launch a huge success

Oct 14, 2017 | 12:12 PM

It was standing room only at Bennigan’s on Friday night for the official launch of the 2018 Rockette calendar and from all accounts, this year’s edition “Hometown Hotness” may just be the most successful yet.

The annual event which supports breast cancer awareness is proudly supported by 93.3 The Rock of the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

“It has been an amazing event for 93.3 The Rock to be associated with,” said Bryan Flannery, the station’s new morning show host. “To see how everyone comes together whether it’s the models, the makeup and hair providers, and photographers all to raise money for breast cancer is pretty great.”

Like most of the models and those connected with the Rockette calendar, knowing someone who has died or is still fighting breast cancer is the main reason for getting involved. For Miss December 2018, Stephanie Hunt, it was a sense of duty to represent the women in her family who have died from cancer.

“All of the women in my life who have died have done so as a result of cancer,” said Hunt. “”I’m really grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this shoot because it hits home.”

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The former Nova Scotia resident who moved to North Battleford four years ago was thrilled with her layout and appreciative of all the hard work it takes to pull off such a product.

“It was an amazing experience and I’m thrilled with my photo,” she added. “Warne (Noyce) does an amazing job and I will admit I was a bit nervous actually seeing it tonight but I think it turned out great.”

The models are kept in suspense and do not see the final results of the photo shoot until the actual unveiling of the calendar.

October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness month in Canada. The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) warns that one in eight Canadian women will be touched by breast cancer in their lifetime.

Alissa Roche of North Battleford also has a personal connection to the disease. The 19-year-old who was selected to represent December 2017, said she was prompted to get involved by her father who thought it would be a great way to support two very important people in her life.

“Both of my grandmothers battled breast cancer,” Roche said. “Plus, I am currently enrolled in nursing school so it’s nice that I can be there to support people who need it and hopefully make a difference someday.”

Of course, with any kind of project such as this, there are bound to be a few bugs to iron out but according to Roche, her bugs were different.

“My shoot was out in a hayfield so I did get a few ant bites,” she laughed. “But I loved every minute of it and I want to congratulate everyone involved.”

The CBCF estimates that this year alone 26,300 women and 230 men in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer and almost 5000 women and 43 men will die from the disease in 2017.

Photographer Warne Noyce, who has been involved with the Rockette calendar for the past seven years, was ecstatic with the end result.

“This year’s calendar is probably my favourite and in talking with everyone involved, I think that is the general consensus,” said Noyce. “It takes a lot of hard work on everyone’s behalf and I think we created something very special here this year.”

Noyce added the fact all of the models live in the Battlefords area made the calendar and what they are doing much more meaningful.

“These young ladies have a lot to be proud of this year, in fact, everyone associated with the calendar should take great pride in what we accomplished here.”

The 2018 Rockette calendars are just $20 and available at Ultra Print, all Discovery Co-op Gas Bars in the Battlefords, Sobeys and at CJNB on 100 St. in North Battleford. All proceeds go to Breast Cancer Awareness.

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @RJWtheReporter