A POPULAR woman’s battle with breast cancer has inspired her friends to strip off for charity.

Denise Broughton, of Wigton, came up with ‘Breast Friends’ calendar to raise awareness and funds.

She roped in friends for a Calendar Girls-inspired naked photo shoot – using strategically-placed props, including cakes, umbrellas and balls of wool, to cover their modesty.

Even firefighters from the local station agreed to join in.

Denise, who is well-known locally through her work with Slimming World, is now planning to turn the photos into a calendar.

Copies will be sold in aid of the Cumberland Infirmary’s Eden Breast Screening Unit and Reiver House chemotherapy unit.

Denise, 52, was diagnosed with breast cancer just over a year ago following a routine mammogram.

She decided to set up her own Facebook page to share her journey, and encourage women not to skip vital screening appointments.

Now Denise, who has undergone surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy as part of her breast cancer treatment, is going a step further by flashing some flesh for the cause.

She explained why she wanted to do it. “Right at the beginning of my treatment I thought that when I’d finished it I would organise a charity night. But then I thought that was one night, when I want to raise awareness and keep it in people’s minds.

“I decided that if it was a calendar, it would be up in people’s homes for 12 months, to keep that awareness going.”

Denise, who runs Slimming World groups in Wigton and Silloth and manages the area team, first told her fellow consultants about the idea, and said they were more than happy to join in.

“They were up for it, so I also mentioned it to my members as well as her close friends and family. A family friend who works at Wigton fire station then asked colleagues, who agreed to join in.

“They were all people who related to my journey and have been there to support me. We wanted some men as well as women as it can affect them too,” she explained.

In total there were over 15 people who took part in the photo shoot, at Wigton Bowling Club last Sunday.

Photographer Louise Porter took the pictures and Denise said it was a fantastic day, full of laughter.

“Once everyone relaxed and got over their initial shyness it was really good fun. We laughed so much,” she said.

“It was so much fun. I will never forget it. I just want to thank everyone who took part, for such a good cause.”

The photographs are now being transformed into a charity calendar, with copies to go on sale before Christmas.

Denise is now taking part in a cancer drug trial as the final part of her cancer treatment.