LILLY employees have produced a 2004 calendar to help raise awareness of issues surrounding breast cancer.

Sparked by this autumn's WI-themed film Calendar Girls, it is being sold to help Lilly's charity of the year, CancerBACUP.

Glamorous Miss November, 39-year-old Frieda Morton-Evans, is a member of Lilly's IT team and a prime mover in encouraging staff at the manufacturing site in Kingsclere Road and head office in Priestley Road to pose for the photographs.

A member of Lilly's steering group that raises money for charity, she said: "The calendar certainly caught the imagination of employees and, having survived breast cancer twice and relied on services such as CancerBACUP, it is great to have the opportunity to give something back."

Frieda, who had breast cancer at the age of 29 and 32 and underwent reconstruction surgery, added: "I'm lucky. I'm still here and I'm really well.

"I want to raise awareness of breast cancer in everyone. It's a very difficult thing to go through and I had quite radical surgery.

"It's about being positive and also making men understand that they can get breast cancer, too."

The calendar may be fun but there is also a serious message under the photographs. This includes facts such as nine out of 10 lumps found are not cancerous and that one per cent of those diagnosed with breast cancer are men.

Derek Anthony, communications manager at Lilly, and chairman of the steering group, said: "We are delighted that so many people became involved and that all monies raised will go directly to CancerBACUP.

"It has been a fun project to be involved in and the calendar highlights some important messages about breast cancer.

"It is themed on hope as more and more people are recovering from breast cancer through improved treatment and diagnosis."

Lilly is to launch an improved treatment for breast and ovarian cancer next year in its continued research into oncology cures.

Anyone wanting to purchase a calendar, which costs £5, should call 01256 775354.