TWO men from a Loughton slimming club have turned the other cheek and decided to bare all for an hilarious nude calendar to help raise money for a cancer charity.
Cabbie Lee Pritchet, 52, and pharmaceutical company worker Nuno Da Graca, 30, have both been snapped stripping off as part of the fund-raising effort for The Prostate Cancer Charity.
The project was especially important to Mr Pritcher, of Rochford Avenue in Loughton, following his own personal battle with testicular cancer three years ago.
He said: “It was nerve-wracking at first but I thought I had to do it, because it was a cancer charity and I know what it is like for men who go through that.
“I found a lump in 2006 and it was diagnosed as cancer. Even though there's quite a high survival rate for testicular cancer it was a pretty frightening experience when they first told me.
“I have recovered now although I still have to have check-ups."
Despite their initial apprehension, both men said the weight loss they had achieved, which they attribute to Loughton-based slimming group LighterLife, had helped combat their nerves and allowed them to almost reveal all.
Mr Da Graca said: “It was something I would never have done before but because I lost four stone in six months it gave me a lot of confidence about my appearance, and it is a very worthwhile cause.”
Meanwhile Mr Pritchet, who himself had lost five stone in the past year, has bought several copies of the calendar to give out to his family on Christmas day – with a particular surprise for his brother-in-law, who's golf clubs he used to cover his modesty during the shoot.
“My brother-in-law doesn't know yet I used his clubs, hopefully he won't mind,” he joked.
Calendars can be purchased from Loughton LighterLife counsellor Lindsey Thompson-Wright by calling 0208 508 1862.
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