The gala will run from 6-9 p.m. Thursday at Eagle Eye Golf Course, 15500 Chandler Road, in Bath, Mich. More than 190 people are planning to attend the gala, tripling the attendance from last year.
Duckett said he has worked with The Oldham Project on various projects for the past several months.

“My mother passed away from cancer about 10 years ago, so that’s what drew me to the cause,” Duckett said. “And then I just started getting involved.”

As honorary chairperson, Duckett will speak to those in attendance about his mother’s cancer, as well as contribute to the gala’s silent auction.

Terri Shaver, the founder and executive director of The Oldham Project, started the organization four years ago. Shaver, who runs her own photography studio in East Lansing, said the Be Bold, Feel Beautiful campaign provides free photographs for anyone with a life-threatening or terminal illness.

Shaver said she went to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization devoted to promoting breast cancer awareness, to assist her with the idea of taking photographs for the cause.

“We’ve photographed dozens of families over the course of the years, but I wanted to expand our offerings,” Shaver said.

“So I met with Susan G. Komen’s representative here in Michigan about a year ago, and we talked together about collaborating on a project, and we came up with the idea of photographing women who were undergoing chemotherapy and have lost their hair.”

Chris Pearson, executive director of the Mid-Michigan Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, said Shaver’s photographs highlight the beauty of the people in them, regardless of the fears and anxieties that come with breast cancer.

“(Shaver has) photographed even a number of younger women, and I think the photos show that yes — this is a life-altering or even life-threatening disease and you may lose your hair,” Pearson said.

“But going without a wig on is truly empowering.”

The Mid-Michigan Affiliate of Susan G. Komen, which serves seven local counties, has helped The Oldham Project with promoting Shaver’s photographs and informing local women about the opportunity to be part of the Be Bold, Feel Beautiful campaign.

Pearson said the photographs allow women to be more open about their disease.

“(The photographs) let people talk about (breast cancer),” Pearson said.

“And when you talk about it, or any other disease, we’ll be able to do more about it. There won’t be that stigma that they have to keep it to themselves.”

Lansing resident Elizabeth Turner is one of the nearly 70 women who were photographed for the Be Bold, Feel Beautiful campaign. She said she was hesitant to participate at first, but realized the positive impact the campaign has on women.

“Personally for me, losing my hair — it was traumatic,” Turner said. “It took me a few weeks to decide to (get my photograph taken). But once I got there and went through the process, I realized what she’s doing is really fantastic for women.”

Duckett said he’s proud to be part of the campaign because it changes the way women with breast cancer feel about themselves.

“It’s hard for them to feel beautiful when they’re down mentally and physically,” Duckett said. “But what Terri (Shaver) does with the photographs — it makes them feel a whole other way.”

To learn more about The Oldham Project, visit theoldhamproject.org.