Shropshire Photographer's Fundraising Shot Pays Off

A Shropshire businessman has raised more than £800 for charity by holding a unique photography marathon.

Paul Wilkinson, who owns Twig’s Branch Photography, completed a 12-hour, non-stop boudoir photography shoot, involving 12 different women, on Saturday. [1 OCT]

The event has so far raised £850 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Each of the 12 women involved made a donation to the PinupforMac12 campaign in exchange for an individual photo shoot with Paul, who is one of Shropshire’s leading boudoir photographers.

Members of the public also sponsored Paul to complete the mammoth challenge, which took place in the ballroom at the Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury.

A team of volunteers came together to pull off the event, including hair and make-up artists who donated their time free of charge including; Janine Louise Lewis from Aesthetics Shrewsbury, Nina Galley, Liz Bell Make-Up, Nikki Speke from A Cut Above salon in Madeley and Jessi Ecclestone from Diamond Beauty in Newport.

PinupforMac12 is part of a wider fundraising initiative, MaxAndTheMac12, by Max Ball, a Shrewsbury marketing assistant who originally hoped to raise £8,000 for Macmillan after his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer towards the end of last year.

Max set himself 12 different sponsored challenges during 2016 and has more than smashed his target, with the current total standing at more than £10,500.

Paul said: “When I first had the idea for the boudoir marathon I wasn’t quite sure if it could work but we have been blown away by the level of support and interest in the PinupforMac12 event. The day itself was a challenge for all involved, getting 12 women into hair and make-up and photographed is no mean feat and it wouldn’t have been possible without all of our fantastic volunteers, our 12 fabulous ladies and, of course, The Lion Hotel for letting us use their amazing ballroom.”

There is still time to donate to the PinupforMac12 campaign by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/twigsbranchboudoirmarathon

Pictured from left to right are hair & makeup volunteers Nikki Speke from A Cut Above in Madeley and Jessi Ecclestone from Diamond Beauty in Newport with Paul Wilkinson from Twig’s Branch Photography and marathon participants Stacey Brittain and Janine Wassell.