An annual fundraising campaign to raise money for women's cancer in Windsor-Essex is taking on a different twist this year.
With COVID-19, the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation is proceeding with the third annual Lock Out Cancer campaign, but shifting its focus to online donations and purchases.
People are asked to purchase a necklace, bracelet, charm or earrings and the items will be shipped to a person's home.
The original padlocks are also available in gold, silver and bronze.
In previous years, there is a ceremony, but with the pandemic, the foundation is asking people to take a picture of themselves wearing the jewellery or hang the padlock somewhere.
A video will be created with the photos.
Cancer Centre Ambassador Cealia Gagnon was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma ten years ago.
She had moved into a new home, was a first-class constable with Windsor police, when her sister pointed to a lump on her neck which she hadn't noticed before.
Gagnon says she wasn't feeling sick and it didn't hurt.
"Thinking nothing of it, I decided to get a checkup the next day, followed by a biopsy and a week later, I heard the words you have Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer," she says.
Gagnon says immediately following the diagnoses, she thought of her family and friends first.
"The last person I thought of was me, cancer is definitely not one person's diagnoses. It affects all of those around you and I couldn't have been luckier to fight mine locally with my family and friends by my side," she says.
Gagnon went through 6 months of chemotherapy followed by months of radiation.
Last year, the campaign raised $135,000 for women's cancer programs and services in Windsor-Essex.
CLICK HERE to donate.
The campaign runs to May 31.