TWO friends will be stripping off for a sexy fashion show to help boost the Raise the Roof appeal.

Melissa Macfarlane, 30, works as an insolvency practitioner by day but she has also set up her own vintage style lingerie company, Voluptasse.

And on October 28 she is hosting a lingerie catwalk and pamper evening at the Fitness for Women gym at Unit 2 in Stansfeld Street, Blackburn.

The businesswoman, from Mill Hill, has organised the event with the help of friend Rachel Tatlow in memory of Melissa’s grandmother Joan Miller, from Ewood, who died from cancer after receiving treatment at East Lancashire Hospice.

The Lancashire Telegraph’s Raise the Roof appeal aims to raise £125,000 to build a new roof over the hospice’s inpatients unit in Park Lee Road, Blackburn.

Melissa said: “When my nana was ill with lung cancer she spent a lot of time at the hospice, and even wrote a letter which was published in the Telegraph saying how nice it was and commending the staff.

“I still have the article and it would be nice to give something back.”

Melissa founded her internet and home party business after working for Ann Summers and spotting a niche in the market.

She said: “I saw some things that they were missing, and I thought ‘I could do that myself’.

“At the show we’ll have a champagne reception and nibbles, spray tanning, eyelash extensions, lots of body things, Hallowe’en games and a raffle.

“We’ve got Blackburn College involved and they will be offering treatments, helping people do their makeup and hair, and of course models will display the clothes, including me and Rachel, with about 15 girls of all shapes and sizes.

“A dance troupe will open the show and we will also have bra fittings and a mastectomy bra range.”

Tickets for the event are priced £10 and can be bought on the Voluptasse website now.

The Raise the Roof appeal has raised £83,000 so far.

How to donate

  • By text - Send ROOF to 70700. Texts cost £5 plus network charge. East Lancashire Hospice receives at least £4.45. Obtain bill payers permission. Customer care 08448479800.

    Charity No 1075653.

  • Online - At eastlancshospice.org.uk/roof-appeal. Remember to add the word ‘roof’ in the comments section so it is clear the donation is for this appeal.
  • At a bank - Make a payment at any Yorkshire Bank, Account No 22741541, Sort Code 05-02-52. Locally there are branches in Accrington, Barnoldswick, Blackburn, Burnley, Chorley, Clitheroe, Colne, Nelson and Todmorden.
  • By post - Send a cheque to Roof Appeal, East Lancashire Hospice, Park Lee Road, Blackburn, BB2 3NY.
  • By phone - Pay by debit or credit card by ringing 01254 733410.

If surplus funds are raised they will be used for the general purposes of the charity.

Click on the link below for more information on the Raise The Roof campaign.