Franki strikes a pose or 12 for breast cancer calendar

9:02am Monday 1st January 2007

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A MUM and daughter are hoping a raunchy calendar will help them raise money for Breast Cancer Care.

When former St Mary's Convent pupil Franki Stone announced she was going to model lingerie for the underwear store Barbarella, her mum did not disapprove. In fact, she actively encouraged it.

Heidi Stone, of Bath Road, Worcester, realised that producing a lingerie calendar would be a great way to raise money for her planned charity trek across the Himalayas.

"She was going to do it for the Barbarella website," said the 39-year-old, "Just to help them out.

"Then I thought we could make a calendar and raise some money."

The pictures were taken at Puckrup Hall in Tewkesbury by the photographer Katherine Jones. All the lingerie that Franki is modelling is from the Barbarella, Worcester's independent underwear store, where she works part-time.

Mrs Stone is hoping to raise at least £3,000 to help the charity Breast Cancer Care.

She chose the cause because the disease - which effects one in nine women - has had a direct impact on her life.

"I lost a friend earlier in the year and another friend of mine has just been diagnosed for the third time," she said.

"She was going to do a freefall jump from a plane but because she was too ill I said I'd do it for her. Then I started to have nightmares because I'm frightened of heights, so I decided something closer to the ground would be better for me."

The Himalayas trek starts on Saturday, March 17, and lasts five days. Mrs Stone will begin at the beautiful hill station of Dharamsala, the spiritual home and monastery of the Dalai Lama, walk through the Kingdom of Gaddi, enjoying magnificent views of the Dhauladhar mountain range.

The calendar, entitled The Breast Year Yet, is on sale at Barbarella, Friar Street, priced £10. Mrs Stone is currently planning a circus-themed event at Worcester's Sin bar. If anybody can help, they can call her on 01905 769588.