Strictly star Lisa Riley features in calendar to raise money for Alzheimer's Society

She is among a dozen celebrities featured in a series of paintings and photographs of people with a link to dementia.

'Chunky and funky' Lisa - storming her way through Strictly Come Dancing - is one of the models brought together in a bid to raise £100,000 for Alzheimer's Society.

It is the idea of Lytham St Annes teaching assistant Katie Mallalieu, whose celebrity team includes two more Calendar Girls, as well as Downton Abbey and Corrie stars.

Lisa said:

'I am over the moon to support the charity and it's really important to me that everyone spreads the word.'

Keeping Lisa company from the Calendar Girls stage show is former Strictly winner Camilla Dallerup who appears for April.

And making it a trio from the stage show is Lynda Bellingham, Alzheimer's Society Ambassador, Oxo mum and presenter of ITV's Loose Women, who appears for her birthday month of May.

Lynda and Katie will launch the calendar at The Atheneaum Hotel, Mayfair, London at 10.30am, Tuesday 30 October and will be available to be pictured with the original artwork.

Corrie couple Judy Holt - who played a woman with Alzheimer's and Tony Hirst who was her on screen fireman husband - both also feature in the calendar. Other stars include Lesley Nicol who plays cook Mrs Patmore in ITV's Downton Abbey.

Katie, a teaching assistant at Ansdell Primary, Lytham St Anne's, has paired each celebrity with someone who has experience of dementia.

She said:

'Watching someone you love be taken to a place where you can no longer reach them is one of the most devastating things to have to witness.

'Helping Alzheimer's Society raise more money to support people in these situations and continue to provide the services that it does has become vitally important to me.

'The photography and paintings are stunning and the models have a message - for example with Camilla is Bernard Collinge of Garstang, near Preston, whose wife Karen was diagnosed with dementia aged just 47.

'I've reached for the stars and I know the funds we raise through the calendar will make a difference to the lives of people with dementia and their families.

'You never know when you might need a charity like Alzheimer's Society.'

Lynda Bellingham, who appears with in the calendar for same month as Katie, said:

'Having been a Calendar Girl on stage, it's wonderful to now be appearing in one for the month of May that will raise funds for a charity close to my heart.

'My mum had Alzheimer's so I know how devastating this disease and its impact can be - not only on the person who has been diagnosed but also on their family and friends. It's a cruel disease which gradually robs you of the person you know and love.  

'As a proud ambassador of Alzheimer's Society, I can't speak highly enough of the work they do to support people living with dementia, their carers and their families. The funds raised from the calendar will help us continue making a worthwhile difference to so many people.'

Alzheimer's Society Calendar costs £10 and is available from www.alzcalendar.co.uk