Begona Castro is hoping to avoid wilting in blazing heat when she occupies the vacant fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square on Friday.

The St Raphael’s Hospice fundraiser will spend her 60 minutes of fame dressed as a sunflower to highlight the importance of skin safety.

She is among 2,400 “plinthers” chosen by random computer selection to form part of Antony Gormley’s living art experiment, One and Other.

The human statues, including a giant pigeon and gentleman playing hip-hop on a gramophone, can do exactly as they please on the pedestal.

Begona, 30, has a serious message to spread because her younger brother Juan died last October after having skin cancer diagnosed.

She said: “I want to use my time on the plinth to remember my brother, honour his bravery during those five months and also raise money for St Raphael’s Hospice in North Cheam, where he was looked after during his last days”

“I am actually really nervous about my hour on the plinth.

"I am quite shy, not too keen of heights and am scared of birds, so its going to be a challenge - but then that was half the point.

“By signing up, and doing something that took me out of my comfort zone, I wanted to honour my brother and all those people, supported by St Raphael's, who go through difficult things and tough moments every day and never once complain - I only have to do it for an hour.”

Each year the hospice must raise £2.8m to provide free support to 925 patients in Sutton and Merton with life-threatening illnesses.

You can follow Begona’s progress at begonaontheplinth.blogspot.com or make a donation by visiting justgiving.com/begonaontheplinth.

Watch her making an exhibition of herself, from 1pm to 2pm on Friday, at oneandother.co.uk.

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