M&S staff show their support for Bright Tights day. Joss Bisson is seated at the front. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 1278078)

THEY are the world’s fourth-largest cancer killer of women.

According to the Guernsey Health Promotion Unit’s epidemiologist, in the Bailiwick there are approximately 100 cases of gynaecological cancers in every five-year period.

And on Friday an initiative that originated in Guernsey aims to raise awareness of the cancers that are responsible for 7,500 deaths each year in the UK alone.

Now in its second year, the idea for Bright Tights Day came from Karla Hill, who is PA to oncologist Dr Gomes at Bulstrode Oncology Unit, explained Pat Childs, who was diagnosed with cancer of the womb in 2008.

‘It’s a purely local initiative, in conjunction with the Health Promotion Unit. The first Bright Tights Day took place last year… we had a healthy lunch at Les Cotils and Di Mathews from the unit came to give a talk.

‘So many people turned up to work in bright tights and got favourable comments.’

Bright tights are seen as an easy and fun way to spread a serious message.