These calendar girls are breast cancer survivors

(WTNH) -- Laurie Aparo never imagined she'd be a calendar girl, but she also didn't ever think she'd be diagnosed with breast cancer.

"It was a total shock, caught on routine mammogram," she said.

With no family history of the disease, Laurie is a 13 year breast cancer survivor. She's featured in the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative 's "Strong And Beautiful" 2013 calendar.

"They give so much money to research, without the research, I wouldn't be here," Aparo said.

Patti Saville says she's now living the life she always wanted, grateful she beat breast cancer ten years ago after a double mastectomy.

"Thank God we have research so that we can say we are survivors." Saville said, "more than survivors, we can say we won the war."

And this calendar will help fund research for a cure. Every cent of the calendar's $25 cost will go directly to the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative.

Photographer Yolanda Pucinski is donating her time and talent for the cause. She, along with a hair and makeup artist, wanted the 12 featured survivors to feel as special as they are.  

"When they speak positive, energetic, hopeful -- just what we should all be in our lives," Pucinski said. "They are strong and beautiful and that's what we try to bring out."

And while the photo experience is a special session making each lady feel special, there's also a gift that gives back to Yolanda behind the camera.

"It brings me a joy to see that I can have a lady who's gone through something that awful, see her images and think 'wow, that's me'," Pucinski said.

Patti and Laurie were moved to tears seeing their photos. It's an experience they say that will last a lifetime, a lifetime they feel so blessed to live to see.

"Treated us like we were the only woman in the world that day," Patti said. "Made us feel comfortable and beautiful."

The Connecticut Breast Health Initiative calendar can be pre-ordered now online. For more information on how to order visit ctbhi.org or visit the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative on Facebook .