The stars of a popular naked charity calendar have stripped off on camera for a final time in a bid to top the £50,000 mark.
The first “Hunks & Horses” nude calendar was produced in 2014, with organisers hoping to raise a couple of thousand pounds for their two chosen charities — World Horse Welfare and Testicular Cancer Research UK.
“We couldn’t believe it when it made £4,000 in the first year, then £7,000 the next and last year £15,000 — it just got bigger and bigger,” founder Kim Smith told H&H.
“It had got to the point where we would like to end on a high, to go out with a bang in the final year.”
The idea to support testicular cancer research came after Kim’s husband— and calendar star — Aaron was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2009. He was given the all-clear last year.
The inspiration to support World Horse Welfare came from a mare called Melody, who was born at the charity’s Hall Farm branch after her mother was rescued. The Smiths fostered her as a youngster until she was old enough to be rehomed as a ridden pony.
“In the first year, we sold 1,000 calendars and thought that was absolutely brilliant,” said Kim.
“Then in the second year, we just ordered 1,000 again, but kept selling out!”
Photos for this year’s calendar, taken by E&K Creative, Wedding & Event Photography, feature long-reining, a bride and tasteful nude tack-cleaning among the shots.
Kim said people are always keen to lend their horses for the shoots, but that thinking up new ideas can be difficult — or they do not always go to plan, such as one memorable attempt involving a water jump, and some unprintable pictures.
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“We have had three guys who have been involved from the beginning and others who have come and gone over the years,” added Kim.
“We are at about £40,000 now with the current fundraising, and we would like to reach £50,000 to cap it off.”
Visit: www.hunksandhorses.co.uk
