A CLERGYMAN and a pilot are among a group of cancer sufferers who have plucked up the courage to swap their clothes for a coat of paint.

A CLERGYMAN and a pilot are among a group of cancer sufferers who have plucked up the courage to swap their clothes for a coat of paint.

They agreed to bare all for world body painting champion and former Ipswich student Carolyn Roper for a calendar, which is on sale today in aid of Cancer Research UK.

The project was the brainchild of Esther Clark, who thought of the idea while undergoing treatment for breast cancer a year ago.

She said: “This made me see my body in quite a new light. The project has been therapeutic when undergoing the various operations and chemotherapy.

“Pondering the next stages of the project has been extremely effective at keeping at bay those uninvited demons that whisper in your ear during difficult times.”

After being approached to help with the calendar, Miss Roper has transformed a church minister into a scarecrow and given a pilot a skin-tight tuxedo.

Other images include a lady re-enacting Audrey Hepburn's iconic image from Breakfast at Tiffany's and a man given a shirt and apron while tossing a pancake.

Miss Roper said: “My area of work is generally quite shallow so I try to lend my body painting to charities. It is important not to be self-involved.”

Miss Roper lived in Hadleigh for 16 years from the age of five and went to Suffolk College, where she studied art and design and beauty therapy.

It was while learning about make up that she discovered her talent for body painting and she won the world title for 2007/08 at a competition in Austria.

Now based in London, the 26-year-old runs her own company, Getmadeup, and provides body painting and make up services for TV and film companies, musicians and advertising.

The calendar was launched on Tuesday at a ceremony in Horsham and is now on sale by calling Esther Clark on 01403 272978 or by visiting www.goodthingsinlife.co.uk www. Alternatively you can e-mail: goodcalendar@aol.com for more information.

Have you been involved in an interesting project for charity? Write to Your Letters, The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk