EVERY milestone has proven even more precious to Eileen Ayres.

Celebrating her son Joe and daughter Megan's 18th and 21st birthdays was one achievement and her daughter gets married next year - another important occasion she feared she wouldn't live long enough to see when, 12 years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Eileen admits when she discovered a lump she never suspected it would be cancer but booked an appointment with the doctor.

"I just found a lump but I didn't even think it would be cancer because I was a keep fit fanatic," she recalls.

Through her doctor, Eileen was referred for further tests at St Luke's Hospital in her home city of Bradford where she was given the devastating breast cancer diagnosis.

Her first thoughts were for her children but that also made Eileen more determined to beat the disease.

She had a mastectomy along with chemotherapy and radiotherapy and thought she'd dealt with it, but Eileen was told that it had spread.

The cancer returned in one of her glands in her neck; she has since battled it in her spine and has also had two brain tumours.

"Then six months ago I knew something wasn't right because I was having some pains and it came back on my liver," says Eileen, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

It is the fifth time she has been diagnosed with the disease and she is determined it won't beat her.

"My daughter is getting married next year and I have pushed the boundaries every year," says Eileen.

Her treatment, she says, has become part of her life, but she is conscious it is also helping to keep the disease at bay and that gives Eileen the impetus to help raise funds to continue the research which is vital in developing new treatments and ensuring more people survive the disease.

It was while in hospital after having her mastectomy that Eileen initially discovered Bosom Friends. The group of women offer support and friendship but, according to Eileen, it has become a real social gathering.

Regular get-togethers are held on the third Wednesday of the month at the Bradford branch of Cancer Support Yorkshire.

"Bosom Friends has opened up a whole new circle of friends that I would never have met in my life," explains Eileen.

Quiz nights and trips away are just some of the social events they get involved with, but their biggest calendar occasion is the Bosom Friends fashion show.

Eileen recalls the first time she participated in the catwalk event. "The first time I did it, it was amazing. It felt so good."

Now in its 24th year, this year's show on October 25, takes place at Bradford Boys Grammar School.

Since it began, one of the show's main supporters - who also supply some of the clothing - is the Bingley fashion firm Damart.

This year the company invited the women to model the limited edition pink vest it has produced to support Breast Cancer Now.

As part of the campaign, Eileen, along with her fellow Bosom Friends have spoken about their experiences with breast cancer on a video available on Damart's website and social media channels.

Daniella Gallagher credits her involvement with Bosom Friends, and particularly meeting Eileen, with helping her cope with her own breast cancer experience.

Daniella was 40 when she was diagnosed in March 2015. She recalls finding the lump under her right breast while showering.

She immediately booked an appointment with the doctor. Tests revealed she had an aggressive form of breast cancer.

A plan was put in place to fight it with chemotherapy and surgery. After undergoing a full mastectomy and lymph node removal, Daniella learned the devastating news it was terminal.

"Your whole world falls to pieces," she explains.

Although she is determined to fight it, and is taking the medication to keep it under control, she is also conscious of making memories for her five-year-old daughter.

The pair have already experienced Lapland at Christmas and enjoyed a break at Center Parcs. They've been camping too and are hoping to visit Disneyland, Paris.

"She is my absolute everything," says Daniella, who broke the news of her diagnosis to her little girl by reading 'Mummy's Lump' a picture book specifically designed to explain breast cancer to young children.

"I felt I had to be honest with her because I was going to be losing my hair and I didn't want her to worry unnecessarily."

Daniella says becoming involved in Bosom Friends and meeting Eileen - who has inspired her by defying her own diagnosis - has given her hope, along with the treatment she is taking to keep the cancer under control.

The availability of medication, which is helping Daniella and others in a similar situation to fight the disease, proves the importance of research trialling these treatments.

To help raise the profile about breast cancer, and boost funds for research, Daniella was only too happy to be involved in Damart's current campaign.

Damart’s Senior Customer Experience Manager, Ben Phillips, said “Bosom Friends were the perfect choice to assist us with our Pink Vest Campaign. We felt it was really important to collaborate with a group of women from the local area who have lived with this disease and continue to fight and support the cause. They were great models and we’re delighted with the final photographs which appear in our catalogue.”

Eileen says: "It was fabulous. It was a lovely day and we spent the day together as six friends. It was such a special day."

Liz Carrington, who is also on the Bosom Friends committee and took part in both shoots, said: “We were thrilled to be asked by Damart to take part in their Pink Vest photo and video shoot for their campaign for Breast Cancer Now.

"It has been a fantastic experience for all of us, we were so pleased to be able to spread our message beyond the local district and demonstrate the importance of this campaign.”

Damart’s pink vest is priced from £17. A £4 donation will be made to Breast Cancer Now from the sale of each item. Over the past decade, more than £170,000 has been raised by Damart for the charity through sales of the pink vest.

To find out more about Bosom Friends visit bosomfriendsbradford.org.