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THE fashion faux pas of wearing no knickers has been turned into a health awareness campaign. Former North-West Coast resident Mandy Williams developed the #noknickers campaign to raise awareness of ''below the belt cancers'' in honour of her friend Julie Hays, a local resident too. The campaign began on Tuesday and finishes today, where people wear no underwear and take a photo of their ''I'm wearing no knickers grin'' - to raise awareness of the cancers that are not often spoken about. ''Julie Hays is my dear friend and she had anal cancer. She underwent radical surgery that took her anus, vagina, vulva, labia and pelvic floor muscles. She is now fighting a secondary cancer,'' Miss Williams said. ''(The) #noknickers campaign (is) to desperately gain awareness for what I refer to as below the belt cancers...anal cancer, bowel cancer, ovarian cancer,vulva cancer, testicular cancer, prostrate cancer, cervical cancer, etc.'' Encouraging people to be aware of and talk about all types of cancer is a key focus for the campaign. ''How many people have heard of fundraising or awareness for anal cancer? I certainly hadn't. This is not a talked about, publicly recognised cancer,'' Miss Williams said. ''There's no pink ribbon recognition or funky symbol to acknowledge this cancer. ''These cancers do not draw the same fundraising, awareness and prevention advice or publicity as others.'' Miss Williams hopes the campaign will gain momentum and become an annual event, and for January 11 to be recognised annually around the world as the Julie Hays Appreciation of Life Day. She is also trying to raise $5000 for Julie Hays. ''(Julie) had radical surgery to save her life and is going under the knife again next week to have another tumour removed. Her oncologist has advised chemo and radiation are no longer options, that the cancer is aggressive and more tumours will almost certainly follow,'' Miss Williams said. ''Please give generously (as) this family deserve a holiday and some financial help to relieve the pressure.'' Post a photo to the Facebook page and donate to the Go Fund Me page.

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