‘Naked’ Warwick Rowers continue to tease 2015 calendar

The Warwick Rowers have launched a crowd-funding campaign to help them make their 2015 calendar their best yet.

Members of Warwick University’s Rowing Club pose naked every year to help tackle homophobia in sport. Their 2014 calendar raised nearly £100,000, with the money going towards new boats for the club, funding the next calendar and the Sport Allies programme, which reaches out to young people suffering from bullying, homophobia and self-esteem issues.

Explaining why the project needs money from fans of the so-called “Naked Rowers”, 2014 calendar centrefold Laurie Hulse said in a press release: “We’re basically a fundraising project – the money that comes in goes straight out again. We’re not sitting on some vast pile of cash, so crowd-funding is an essential part of how we pay for production of the next year’s calendars, films and everything else.”

He then added: “Every summer we come up with great deals and unique offers that make it possible for us to cover our costs and get the best value from our suppliers, so that as much of our revenue as possible can go where it’s needed. It also means our supporters get a great deal!”

Celebrities including Ian McKellen, Kylie Minogue, Stephen Fry, Antony Cotton and Gok Wan have revealed that they are fans of the ever suggestive calendar, but Hulse made it clear that the project has a serious message behind it, too.

“I’ve had the chance to meet people from the LGBT community that I might not otherwise have met. I’ve been able to hear about their experiences of being bullied, and struggling to come to terms with their sexuality. I hope that this is something our calendars and our films can help to address. Not just by funding our outreach work, but by making a statement.”

To encourage donations, the rowers have released a cheeky teaser video – check out some highlights below, then scroll down for the full video.

To donate to the cause, click here. Meanwhile, check out another teaser for the calendar here.