A CHARITY calendar raising funds for one of Cumbria's most important organisations is expected to have raised over £10,000.

Sales of the 2024 Wainwright Society calendar, which this year are benefitting the Lakes District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, have far exceeded expectations.

The calendar was so popular that the Society had to order a re-print in the run up to Christmas, and these copies again sold out, and eight thousand pounds has already raised.

Calendar producer Ian Nelson says that when final sales and donations are counted from the fundraising effort, the total raised will exceed ten thousand pounds, which will be passed on to help fund the vital and unpaid work undertaken by Cumbria's twelve volunteer mountain recue teams.

Mr Nelson said: "Our thanks go to everyone who has helped in the promotion of the calendar, to our retailers for their continued support, to the numerous guest house owners that have kindly displayed a poster and publicised the calendar, and, of course anyone that made a purchase."

The Wainwright Society, whose aim is to "keep alive the fellwalking traditions promoted by Alfred Wainwright through his guidebooks and other publications and to keep faith with his vision of introducing a wider audience to fellwalking and caring for the hills", have chosen Fix The Fells as their nominated charity this year, and production of the 2025 calendar is now underway

Mr Nelson said: "With so many talented photographers amongst the Society's membership, we the hope that this calendar equally successful, and every penny of profit will be donated to another local charity, Fix The Fells".