A local photographer is putting together a calendar that won't feature hunky firefighters, stunning mountain vistas, sunny golf courses or classic muscle cars.
Instead, Warne Noyce is focusing on the faces of cancer.
Noyce is putting together a calendar of people from the Battlefords area and beyond who are battling cancer in an effort to raise awareness about the fight.
"We want it to be a shock," said Noyce.
"It's looking into the souls of people. It's inspirational."
Each month will feature a different type of cancer. The photos will be black and white, accented by cancer ribbon colours - for example, pink for breast cancer, purple, teal and pink for thyroid cancer.
Noyce has already taken some of the photos and scheduled shoots with people from as far away as Edmonton and Toronto. Some are survivors and some are still fighting the illness.
He's still looking for people with cancer in the Battlefords area who are interested in being part of the calendar project.
Noyce is hoping to have the calendars completed this summer. He's planning to donate all of the proceeds to help cancer patients - and he knows what it's like to be a cancer patient. Noyce was diagnosed with cancer two years ago.
"I was playing with my band in Banff and I found this little lump," he said.
The lump got bigger, and it turned out to be thryroid cancer.
"I remember getting the call Dec. 18, just before Christmas. It felt like someone was kicking me in the stomach," he said.
Two surgeries later, Noyce is doing well, but he'll be scanned for cancer every six months until he's cancer free for five years. He'll be on medication for the rest of his life.
Noyce's calendar will feature someone with thyroid cancer, but it won't be a self-portrait.
"It's not about me," he said.
"It's just using my photography ability to help others."
Part of the funds raised through the calendar project will go to the Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation to help local cancer patients.
Claudette McGuire, executive director of the Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation, said the calendar is a great idea and she's looking forward to working with Noyce.
"He's an absolutely fabulous photographer. I think he's come up with a new concept on an idea that's been done before. I think it will relate to the public well," she said.
