An 18-month calendar is on sale in Albany with proceeds going to the cancer group Breast Friends of Portland. The calendar runs from July 2008 to December 2009.

Breast Friends is dedicated to improving the quality of life for breast cancer patients around the state through awareness, education and support for family and friends. Information about the group is available at www.breast

friends.com.

The Hope Chests calendar features women who “shed their clothes for a cause close to their hearts,” said Susan Johnson, a nurse at Samaritan Albany General Hospital.

Johnson, a breast cancer survivor, said the women are close to her and wanted to do what they could for breast cancer awareness and education.

Johnson took on the calendar project as the First Lady of Masons in Oregon. Her husband, Dennis, is the Grand Master of Masons in Oregon, 2007-08.

The calendar features photographs along with monthly teaching messages, statistical information and reminders to do monthly breast exams. Posing in some of the photographs were Johnson’s daughters Shalem Patton, a 1987 West Albany High School graduate, and Shelah Russell, a 1989 WAHS grad.

Kirsti Holley, another 1987 WAHS graduate, composed the photographs.

The calendars are $15 and are available at Pride Printing, 406 First Ave. W., at the hospital gift shop, or by e-mailing HopeChestsCalendar@

gmail.com.

If Johnson can recoup the $4,000 cost associated with putting the calendar together, the group would consider creating another one.

Cathy Ingalls