The Bare All Calendar features 12 breast cancer survivors who represent their journey with body paint by Orange artist Bernie Novotny.

The women include Sheran King, Banika Smee, Janine Caughlan, Louise Jones, Helena McKinnon-Braid, Francine Sammut, Kellie Grant, Jules Gorringe, Rowena Andrews, Emma Beet, Sharon Beuzeville and Dale Flawith.

Mrs Grant said the calendar was about raising awareness of the symptoms of cancer.

“I was 40 when I was diagnosed but there are girls who are 18 that go through this,” Mrs Grant said. “Raising awareness, especially for young girls, is crucial because early detection can save lives.”

Mrs Grant said group members wanted cancer survivors to accept their bodies the way they were.

“There’s a lot of women who’ve had double mastectomies,” she said. “When they’re body painted, instead of focusing on their scars or surgery, there’s been some who’ve been really emotional about it because they can see on the other side they do look beautiful.”

Mrs Smee said her husband was her motivation for taking part.

“My husband was diagnosed with melanoma in January this year, he had his lymphs removed and now he has lymphedema,” Mrs Smee said. “I’m doing the calendar for the cause of lymphedema because he hasn’t been able to get any post-surgery treatment for the lymphedema.”

Body painter Mrs Novotny said she wanted the calendar to portray the women’s beauty. “There were a lot of tears. A couple of the girls hadn’t looked at their bodies that way,” Mrs Novotny said.

A calendar launch will be held at Kelly’s Rugby Hotel on Sunday, November 6.

Visit www.chuffed.org/project/bareall2017 to purchase a calendar for $30.