Search

12 Oct 2025

Devon grandad, 65, bears all in battle against prostate cancer

Torbay photographer helps 'Col' in 'Naked Truth' campaign inspired by Liz Hurley

Col goes naked in campaign Pic Sue Vaughton

Col goes naked in campaign Pic Sue Vaughton

A 65-year-old man is bearing all in the battle against prostate cancer - and with the help of a Torbay photographer and inspiration from a world-famous celebrity

A 65-year-old man is bearing all in the battle against prostate cancer - and with the help of a Torbay photographer and inspiration from a world-famous celebrity
The grandfather, from North Devon and known only as 'Col' , has posed naked for a series of photographs and has set up a Justgiving page to raise £10,000 for Prostate Cancer Research. 
Sue Vaughton, of Sue Vaughton Photography in Torquay, organised the photo shoot for the campaign which took place at Cheriton Fitzpaine in mid Devon. 
Sue is now organising a follow-up fundraising life drawing event at the Esplanade Hotel in Paignton later this month.
Col has been living with prostate cancer for over a decade.
Elizabeth Hurley Pic Wikimedia
It was superstar Liz Hurley who helped prompt him into action.  "When she posed nude at 60, it sparked headlines around the world, " says Col. Now 'inspired by that moment' he has stripped off, 'not for glamour, but for survival'.

Col says: "I thought if Liz can do it for her 60th, I can do it at 65, but for something far more important. Too many men are dying in silence. I want to strip away the stigma and make sure no family loses a loved one too soon.”

Working with photographer Sue, Col has created Revealing The Naked Truth, a daring artistic campaign designed to challenge taboos and inspire men to act. Sue says: "I wanted to create images that balance strength and fragility, a reminder that prostate cancer can touch any man. Art has the power to break taboos and spark conversations where statistics alone can’t.”

Col says: "After years of relative stability, my cancer recently returned. Instead of hiding away, I decided to do something bold: strip away the stigma and bare all to raise awareness, spark conversation, and fund vital research. With the incredible support of photographer Sue Vaughton, we’ve created Revealing The Naked Truth — an artistic nude campaign designed to break the silence around prostate cancer and inspire other men to join me."

He added: "This disease is stealing too many lives.  Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer for men in the UK.  One man dies every 45 minutes. That’s 11,500 men every year. Research and awareness for prostate cancer are still decades behind breast cancer. These statistics aren’t just numbers. They represent fathers, brothers, partners, sons and friends. They represent families torn apart.
Col in Naked Truth campaign Pic Sue Vaughton Photography
"I’ve bared all to launch a movement... but this campaign isn’t just about me. It’s about all of us. Together we can raise vital funds for Prostate Cancer Research,  break the taboo and get men talking about their health, inspire others to join the #NakedTruth challenge and show solidarity."
Oliver Kemp, CEO of Prostate Cancer Research, says: “It is great to see Col organising an in-aid of fundraising event for Prostate Cancer Research. His bold #Revealing the Naked Truth challenge is a great way to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer"
The campaign's first fundraising event is a Life Drawing at the Esplanade Hotel on Paignton seafront on Tuesday October 28(7pm). Email baycat430@gmail.com to register
Men interested in joining the campaign can contact Col directly at col4pcr@outlook.com.

Donations can be made via the JustGiving page. https://www.justgiving.com/page/nakedtruth

To continue reading this article,
please subscribe and support local journalism!


Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles.

Subscribe

To continue reading this article for FREE,
please kindly register and/or log in.


Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news!

Register / Login

Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.

Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.