BREAST cancer patients have come together to create a nude calendar to help fellow sufferers.

Members of Fetcham-based support group Treasured Chests produced the calendar in aid of the Fountain Centre, which supports Surrey patients.

Helen Portsmouth, who received treatment at the centre after being diagnosed in February, was part of a group of women who joined to set up the support group.

She said: "The group has been going for three months now and is basically full of Surrey people who are living with breast cancer and those who have already overcome it.

"On our very first night we spoke about how we wanted to be proactive in our support of one another and in raising money for the cause.

"Somebody came up with the idea of doing a charity calendar along the lines of Calendar Girls, and 48 hours later we were at Fetcham Park (business centre and function venue) having a photo shoot; it was incredible."

Ms Portsmouth added: "The majority of sufferers are aged between 55 and 65, but in our group we have women as young as 30 and so we thought these beautiful young ladies could help charities in a different way.

"We are so indebted to Fetcham Park, without them this couldn't have come together so perfectly. They are also offering to host future meetings so we are so grateful for their support."

Professional make-up artists and a photographer gave their services free of charge for the calendar shoot.

Fetcham Park director Sandra Young said: "I've had lots of friends, including my father, who have been helped by the Fountain Centre so I was honoured to help out.

"They were the most inspirational women to work with. I just could not get over their positivity and attitude to it all.

"We at Fetcham Park felt so privileged to help them out and be a part of the project in our own way. We hope to have them back for a drink and a chit-chat as soon as possible."

You can purchase the 2012 calendar from Barton's Bookshop in Leatherhead for £10, or alternatively go to www.treasuredchestscalendar.wordpress.com

The Fountain Centre, part of St Luke's Cancer Centre at Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford, offers advice, counselling and a range of complementary therapies to cancer sufferers and their families.