A group of friends affected by breast cancer have posed for a topless calendar - to raise money to battle the disease. Michelle Leaker, 42, arranged for her pals to star in the shoot, which will raise money for Breast Cancer Now.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer after a mammogram had detected two cancerous spots. Her mum, Patricia Peet, died of the same illness on February 14, 1994.
After receiving 15 rounds of radiotherapy, a lumpectomy and the removal of one of her lymph nodes, Michelle went into remission in November 2022. Now, she wants to raise money for further research into breast cancer - and hopes to sell the calendar in bulk ready for 2024.
Michelle, from Leicester, said: “My mum passing away at 44 meant I had to start having mammograms early - and if I hadn’t gone for one at 40, I probably wouldn’t be here today. I decided I wanted to do a charity calendar as a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing. I just wanted to get all of the ladies together and do something for charity.
“I wasn’t nervous at all - I’ve been getting my boobs out for the last nine months, and, frankly, if I had to do it one more time for a good cause it wouldn’t be a problem. Since my mum had breast cancer, medicine has completely changed for the better through charities doing cancer research.
“So any money made from the calendars, after subtracting printing costs, will go towards Breast Cancer Now.”
Michelle’s friendship group who took part in the calendar included hospital worker Joanne Smith, Michelle’s sister Karina Leaker and Tabitha Connolly, who was diagnosed with breast cancer herself in December 2021. Louise Peet, Michelle’s niece, travelled from Plymouth to Leicester to take part in the shoot.
She said: “I was nervous going into it because I was the one who went first. But once I started doing it, the photographer was just hyping me up and making me feel confident.
“Music was constantly playing and it was a great vibe all round - when we all took our group photo, they played Unstoppable by Sia, which felt really empowering. It was a really good experience because all the ladies were making each other feel really confident, and just empowering ourselves to go topless in front of the camera.”
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The calendar was shot professionally by Monia Photography, based in Leicester where Michelle lives. Many of Michelle’s family and friends are based in Plymouth, including niece Louise, who will be the image for June in the charity calendar.
The £10 calendar will be ready by September 2023 but pre-sales are already in place. All money raised will go towards charity, Breast Cancer Now. If you'd like to pre-order, email Michelle on shell812009@live.co.uk or Louise on louisemaria1996@outlook.com and they can take your payment via PayPal.
