The Angel Care-Breast Cancer Foundation recently kicked off its seventh calendar featuring a dozen volunteers from the nonprofit organization — all survivors of breast cancer.

One of those volunteers, Barbara Allan of Anacortes, is featured as Ms. November 2009 in a typical pose of past calendars — think of the movie “Calendar Girls.”

“Our volunteers are wearing only wings, however, no scars are showing as all photos were taken in good taste,” said founder Jan Harris. “The message is to show there is life after breast cancer and to help survivors live their life to the fullest, to embrace life and savor each day.”

The “No Ordinary Angels” calendar is one of the main fundraisers for the organization that teams breast cancer survivors with those newly diagnosed with the disease. Volunteers cover areas in Puget Sound and Idaho.

“The goal for Angel Care is to help empower referrals to wellness and the calendar shows our volunteers doing just that, along with adding a bit of humor along the way,” Harris said.

Allan was diagnosed with breast cancer 20 years ago, but after receiving treatment has had no reoccurrence of the disease. Now at 65 she’s a volunteer with Angel Care helping others newly diagnosed.

So far she’s been paired with two people, one who recently had a mastectomy. Allan gives the women emotional support and helps them get in touch with resources for treatment information, support groups and outlets that supply wigs and prostheses.

“I just find I get a great deal of satisfaction out of doing it, helping other women go through this bad time,” Allan said.

Allan said the photo shoot was one of the neatest things she’s ever done.

“I think every woman likes to be fussed over,” she said. “My hair was done and my makeup. It was just so much fun.”

Allan said photographer Gail Ann Watson of West Seattle was phenomenal.

Watson stepped in at the last minute for the 2008 Angel Care calendar and was honored to work with the organization a second time, she said.

“It is almost soothing to be in the presence of these ‘angels’ as they show the spirit and determination it takes to make it through a bout with breast cancer,” Watson said. “Luckily neither my mom, myself or my sister has had to deal with this but who knows.”

Watson said it was Allan’s first calendar and needless to say she was a little unsure of what to expect.

“And frankly so was I as I consider myself a reactive photographer so the challenges with each angel are unique,” Watson said. “But Barb was easy to work with as we found a fence for a prop and grabbed some greenery from outside to make a pleasant scene for her.”

Allan attended the calendar’s kickoff on Thursday that coincided with October being National Breast Cancer Awareness month. The event was at Parkplace Books in Kirkland where Allan and the other models signed calendars. In the coming weeks, they’ll also be visiting bookstores and other businesses to help promote sales of the calendar.

“I’m really passionate about this foundation,” Allan said. “I think it does so much good for so many women.”

“I think we feel as women who have gone through surgery and who have gone through chemotherapy ... you feel less of a woman,” Allan said. “And I think doing this calendar brings to the forefront that cancer doesn’t destroy your beauty, inner or outer or both.”

“I think that’s why I wanted to do it — to show life is still wonderful.”



Angel CareBreast Cancer Foundation

The 2009 “No Ordinary Angels” calendars are $15 each plus $2.50 shipping and handling. To purchase one or a few, go to http://www.angelcarefoundation.org or call (877) 417-3484.

Women and men in need of Angel Care services and breast cancer survivors interested in volunteering for the organization are asked to call the Issaquah office at (877) 417-3484 or e-mail .