Mates strip off to show their lockdown fitness achievements in charity calendar

A group of friends have taken their tops off to star in their own charity calendar to bring a smile throughout 2021.
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Nathan Whale rounded up his pals to take part in the Smash It! challenge, tasking them with improving on their personal best in the gym to give them a goal during the tough year.

Now their images have been put together in a calendar to raise cash for Crohn’s and Colitis UK, a charity close to his heart as he has friends and family who have the conditions, with its limited edition print run already sold out.

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Nathan Whale and James Maxwell in their shots.Nathan Whale and James Maxwell in their shots.
Nathan Whale and James Maxwell in their shots.
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Nathan, 40, a quality manage at SGK Inc, a brand and marketing company, is joined by Adam Huntley, 39, the director of Northumbria Optical Coatings, Danny Callaghan, 38, a channel manager at Zip Water, James Maxwell, 40, a supervisor at Supply Technologies and Michael Cook, 45, a director of Michael Cook Wealth Management.

Danny is among those Nathan knows who have been effected by the conditions, with Nathan proud he put himself forward into the limelight by staring in the £5 calendar.

The project was sponsored by Marion’s Florist, in West Avenue at The Nook in South Shields, backed by Queen Street Fitness in the town centre and the gym wear was sponsored by Kelmec engineering firm.

Adam Huntley and Danny Maxwell appear in the project.Adam Huntley and Danny Maxwell appear in the project.
Adam Huntley and Danny Maxwell appear in the project.

Nathan said: “I’ve done charity events for Cancer Connections and St Clare’s Hospice before and I wanted to do something to mark my 40th.

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"I decided I wanted to get into the best shape I could and beat my personal best, so I launched Smash It! 2020, so got the lads together and challenged them to do it too.

"I had planned to have a night at Whiteleas Club in October with live bands, but that all collapsed because of Covid.

"We were going to do a strip at the event, but then it was cancelled.

The stars of the calendar with Courtney Dadswell of Marion's Florist, which sponsored the calendar.The stars of the calendar with Courtney Dadswell of Marion's Florist, which sponsored the calendar.
The stars of the calendar with Courtney Dadswell of Marion's Florist, which sponsored the calendar.

"I think the calendar has gone really well. It’s all been about having just a bit of fun to lighten things up and it got us out of our comfort zone.

"I’m really proud of the lads.”

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Donations to their campaign can still be donated via the funding page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nathan-whale-smash-it2020.

Michael Cook also joined in the project.Michael Cook also joined in the project.
Michael Cook also joined in the project.

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