British athletes go naked with Alfa Romeo

Ahead of the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace this weekend (5-6 August) Alfa Romeo ambassadors Kelly Sotherton (400m), Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (100m), Lisa Dobriskey (1500m) and Iwan Thomas MBE (former European and Commonwealth 400m champion) stepped off the track and into the studio alongside an Alfa MiTo Sprint – shedding their clothing somewhere along the way.

It’s all for a good cause though – raising awareness and supporting the research activities of Heart Research UK.

Alfa Romeo, official car supplier to UK Athletics (UKA), has joined forces with the four top athletes and leading portrait photographer, Fergus Greer, and will donate £100 to Heart Research UK for every new red Alfa MiTo sold in the month of August.

The plan was to help create an exclusive series of power and beauty themed photographs entitled ‘Without heart we would be mere machines’ – Alfa Romeo’s brand strap line.

Renowned photographer Fergus Greer has captured a variety of personalities including David Bowie, Bill Gates, David Cameron and Princes William and Harry during his career, featuring twice at the National Portrait Gallery. You can see more of his images here

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Former Olympic Heptathlon bronze medallist and current 400m runner Kelly Sotherton (right) said: “When the opportunity came up to help raise funds for Heart Research UK with Alfa Romeo I didn’t hesitate to get involved.

I was obviously a little nervous about being naked, but I’m proud of the pictures and they’ll be something I will be able to show the grandkids one day.”

100m sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey said: “I’ve actually been in a few photo shoots before, but nothing to this degree. This is the most revealing I’ve been for a shoot and it really was exciting to do. I hope the photos help raise awareness of Heart Research UK and raise some serious money.”

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Note: Signed photographs will be auctioned to help raise money for Heart Research UK. So if you’d like to contribute but are not in the market for an Alfa MiTo Sprint, visit www.facebook.com/AlfaRomeoUK for further information.

For more information on Heart Research UK, visit their website.

Images: Fergus Greer via Alfa Romeo UK.