By Julian Whittle

Last updated at 15:45, Saturday, 20 October 2012

Twelve brave women are baring their bosoms to raise money for a breast-cancer charity.

The business-support group Cumbria Women in Enterprise is producing a 2013 calendar featuring the painted breasts of a dozen of its members.

The photographs were shot on Tuesday and the calendar is due to go on sale next Wednesday priced at £5 plus a voluntary donation.

Models include Helen Mackenzie, 38, who runs Candy Print in Carlisle.

She said: “It’s an intimate thing to have a photograph of one of your breasts published but because it’s a really good cause we didn’t have difficulty getting volunteers.

“We all had something connected to ourselves or something we liked painted on one of our breasts.

“Everybody was a little bit nervous before the shoot but by the end of the evening we were all enjoying ourselves.”

Those expecting page-three style topless photos will be disappointed.

Helen added: “The nipple is covered. It’s more art than page three, tastefully done. The photographs don’t show your face so someone looking isn’t going to know who they are looking at.”

The calendar was the brainchild of Helen Graham who runs the face-painting business Jelli Nelli, also in Carlisle.

She was able to use her artistic talents on a different part of the human anatomy.

Ms Graham said: “The idea isn’t original. There’s a web site – www.happybaps.com – where they post photos of painted breasts to raise awareness about breast cancer.

“When I put the idea to the group I thought it would take people out of their comfort zone but I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm. It’s fun but making a bit of a statement as well.”

One of the women pictured is a breast-cancer survivor who had a mastectomy and breast implant.

The photographs were taken by Tracey Walker of Picture U and the calendars are being printed free of charge by H&H Reeds. All the proceeds go to the Pink Ribbon Foundation.

Details of where to buy the calendars will be published shortly.

First published at 15:24, Saturday, 20 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk