A SELF-CONFESSED photography “nerd” raised more than £5,000 for charity thanks to her homemade calendar of spectacular snaps.
Mid-Essex Camera Club member Paula Wiseman made a compilation of landscape shots from scenes across the Maldon district and put them into a calendar.
She raised an amazing £5,232 for Farleigh Hospice.
Paula, 54, of Station Road, Wickham Bishops, only took up photography two years ago after taking the plunge to fully invest in her hobby.
She said: “I walk every day and I take photos daily.
“I’m a camera nerd and I love wildlife – I’m a country girl.
“I’ve always loved photography, but I just couldn’t get the pictures I had in my head.
“So, I dived in deep and got a big camera and practised every day.
“It’s a whole new world. It’s a crazy one but it’s a great one!”
The idea of the calendar first came up when she saw that her friend Joy, from Heybridge, was collecting for the hospice.
The idea came to her as she was thinking of a way to help with the fundraising.”
Paula said: “I’m a bit like a bull in a china shop – if I’ve got something in my head, I’ve got to do it.”
She created her calendar and got 400 printed off in Witham, which all sold out.
Paula added: “There was more in the pot than there was in sales because people were so generous, they gave a couple of pounds here and there.”
She intends to put together a wildlife calendar this year and donate to two charities of her choice.
Farleigh Hospice was delighted with the donations from both Paula and Joy.
Fundraising manager Debbie De Boltz said: “We’re so thankful to Paula for her phenomenal fundraising efforts.
“Paula’s idea to create the calendar was inspired by the efforts of former colleague, Joy Dorrell.
“Joy has raised £3,000 to date with her neighbours in Heybridge by holding a regular street sale selling donated items.
“Farleigh greatly appreciates the efforts of both Paula and Joy in inspiring each other to raise such a large amount for us.
“It’s a great example of a community working together to help support a vital service for the local area.
“These donations will help us to continue to provide care to people in mid Essex with a life-limiting illness as well as offer much-needed support to their loved ones.”
To buy prints, visit paula wiseman-photography@aol.com.
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