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The Red Ribbon calendar is back for 2027. We speak to Jordan Chan the brainchild of the calendar.
The Red Ribbon Calendar is returning for 2027. What made you decide to bring the project back for another year, and what have you learned from the success of the previous calendar?
I wanted to bring back the calendar for 2027 due to the success of last year’s calendar, which sold over 400 calendars and raised £3,400 which was split between Sussex Beacon and Terrence Higgins and leaned that the launch parties were a huge part of its success.
Once again you’re raising money for Terrence Higgins Trust and The Sussex Beacon. Why was it important to continue supporting these two organisations, and what does their work mean to you personally?
Yes, these two charities do fantastic work raising awareness for HIV as the country works towards 2030 Zero, and supports those living with HIV. Personally I have very close friends living with HIV, who rely on HIV charities and their support, but as a gay man, knowing the deviation the aids crisis had in the 80/90s, I want to to do my bit to help ensure our community never goes through that again.
The calendar is about more than fundraising — it also aims to challenge stigma and encourage conversations around HIV. What do you hope people will take away from the 2027 calendar beyond the photographs themselves?
Yes that’s right, we want to start conversations around HIV to help fight the stigma, encourage testing and safe sex, and also educate people on what treatments and prevention is out there! Those living with HIV should not have to face stigma and should be treated with the same dignity and respec
You’re working again with Mwords Photography. How has your creative partnership developed, and can you give us a hint about what will make the photography and concept of the 2027 calendar different this time around?
Yes this is actually our third calendar together, with this being the second red ribbon. I always wanted to create my own calendar, and raise money for charity, the first was for testicular cancer and the odd balls foundation, and now the red ribbon for the second year. Mark (Mwords) wanted to strip the calendar back making the red ribbon the front and centre, and went with black and white which I love. I could do the calendar without Mark and the boys!
Looking ahead to the launch of the Red Ribbon Calendar 2027, what are your ambitions for this year — both in terms of the amount you hope to raise and the number of people you hope the campaign can reach?
This years calendar is coming back bigger and better with the same locations for launch as last year but I’ve added Hastings! Saturday 24th October - Brighton at Bar Broadway Saturday 7th November - Hastings Forbidden Fruit Saturday 28th November - Kent La Margate Saturday 12th December - London Admiral Duncan and Village We want to sell more calendars than last year and raise even more money! I would like to the take the opportunity to thank all our sponsors for this years calendar too! 1 Million Gays Cafe Nucleus Forbidden Fruit Regency Tavern Thames Active La Margate Queer Kent Life Bar Broadway Pier Ceylon Bull Dog Margate Beach Club Friend of Dorothy Sukrew
