NECC Photography student and breast cancer patient Priscilla Westaway has launched a photography fundraiser to raise money for fellow cancer patients and their families.

What started as a way for breast cancer patient Priscilla Westaway to use her new found interest in photography to raise funds for other cancer patients and their families, has quickly become a multi-faceted project that culminates with a fundraiser October 20 and 21.

The Northern Essex Community College photography student titled her project “Photo for a Cause”. She has aggregated hundreds of black and white and color photographs to display and sell at an inaugural fundraiser at NECC’s Hartleb Technology Center, on the Haverhill campus, 100 Elliott St., Haverhill.

Over the past few months a series of photographs have been displayed at various locations throughout the Merrimack Valley including local town and city halls, libraries, cafes, and The Lahey Clinic, in Peabody, where Westaway is treated.

Westaway, a pharmacy technician, who has received treatment for breast cancer for the past 19 months, took digital photography courses at Northern Essex during the fall and spring semesters and was immediately captured by the medium. With the fallout from what a cancer diagnosis can do to a family’s budget still fresh in her mind, the Methuen resident thought there might be a way to meld her new hobby with raising money for other cancer patients and their families to offset the hidden costs of cancer treatments.

With little to no fundraising experience, the 50-year-old relied on the organizational and technical skills of her daughter Kristen and the photography donations of other NECC students, faculty, staff, as well as some seasoned photographers.

All proceeds from the event will benefit cancer patients and their families who are in need of financial assistance.

In addition to the exhibit and sale, there will be a silent auction of five select photographs taken by professional photographers from around the world and raffle prizes from major sponsors like Southwest Airlines, Hannaford Bros. Co. and The Professional Stylist Forum.

The photographs that are available for sale will be featured on the photoforacause.org website. If you are unable to attend the fundraiser, but would like to make a donation, donations can be made through the website.

For additional information on the exhibit or the auction, contact Westaway at 978-836-8946.

Northern Essex offers a number of photography classes include Introduction to Photography and Introduction to Digital Photography, Studio Lighting, and Digital Imaging.