Kerry Cannie, Jen Chilton, and Leah Blanchette are featured on billboards throughout Ontario promoting the CIBC Run for the Cure.

Blanchette, a cancer survivor, says Cannie submitted a write up along with the picture and it was chosen out of many to represent the nation-wide event.

Cannie was diagnosed in 2012 with stage 1 breast cancer but she says thanks to early detection she was able to fight it relatively quickly and without invasive treatment.  However, she says it’s no the case for some and that’s why the Run for the Cure is so important.

“Having our faces on a billboard is way out of our comfort zone but you know what? You have to get out of you comfort zone to get things done.  You have two choices: you can feel sorry for yourself or get things done and that’s what were doing.”

Timmins joined the Run for the Cure in 2012, the same year Cannie was diagnosed with cancer but she was able to run despite just wrapping up treatment.

“It’s an honour to have been chosen but what you don’t see in the picture is how much it was raining.  It was a torrential downpour in May and we stood through it, ” said Blanchette.  “What you don’t see is the raw emotion, i was holding Kerry’s hand and Jen’s arms around Kerry.  The picture represents the kind of support you need to get through something like cancer.”

The CIBC run for the cure goes Oct. 4th in Timmins and Gillies Lake.