THE colour purple will take on a whole new meaning this November as places around the world are illuminated in a bid to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer.

Evesham is set to be part of the movement as the town's Almonry Museum will be bathed in purple light in support of World Pancreatic Cancer Day on Thursday, November 13.

The town's involvement is down to Evesham widow, Sandra Francis, who has been working hard to raise money for the fight against pancreatic cancer since losing her husband Pete to the disease in December 2012.

She has been battling for fairer funding for research into pancreatic, which has the lowest survival rate of all cancers in both sexes, and is hoping this latest campaign will raise awareness of the disease.

"It's all about awareness of the symptoms," said Mrs Francis. "You need to know the symptoms so you can get the operation early enough to survive."

This comes as the Office for National Statistics released information that the five-year survival from pancreatic cancer is just five percent.

By lighting the Almonry, which will join world famous spots such as Niagra Falls as it's turned purple, the hope is people will think about the symptoms, which are primarily pain in the stomach or back, jaundice and weight loss.

"I am thrilled to bits the Almonry is getting involved," added Mrs Francis. "One place in the town for somewhere the size of Evesham is fabulous.

"World Pancreatic Cancer Day is world wide and for Evesham to be part of something international is fantastic.

"And I think it will look really pretty as well."

Tonia Collett, manager of the Almonry Museum, said she was happy to support Mrs Francis and her campaign.

"I had heard about Sandra's campaign through Twitter, so I was aware of her reasons for doing it," she said.

"Pancreatic cancer is quite an over looked cancer as they go and one of the more difficult to treat. So I thought this was a lovely way to raise awareness.

"As with all things it's about spotting the signs early and if it saves one person that would be fantastic."