Arts Council is proud to serve as a fiscal agent for LeAnne Rucker Has Cancer.​

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LeAnne Rucker Has Cancer chronicles the transformative journey of two sisters—Christine Rucker and her younger sister, LeAnne Rucker—following LeAnne's cancer diagnosis. Through intimate audio and video interviews, poignant archival footage, and stunning photography of both LeAnne and the awe-inspiring landscapes surrounding the Yadkin River, the film offers an unflinching look as they navigate the complexities of illness and the uncertainty of treatment. 

 

Growing up during a time when neurodivergence and developmental disabilities weren poorly understood, LeAnne was institutionalized on and off from the age of 6-26. Despite eventually being brought home by their parents, the deep emotional and psychological scars of those years in the system had a lasting impact—both on LeAnne’s mental health and on the fractured relationship between the two sisters 

 

In the final chapter of her life, LeAnne moves to Christine’s farm in East Bend, North Carolina, where the two sisters begin a profound reconnection, forging a new relationship during LeAnne’s last years. Christine, a seasoned photojournalist and storyteller, takes LeAnne on hikes and river outings, creating space for them to heal together in the natural world. As they journey along the river, the sisters experience a spiritual rebirth–LeAnne reclaims her sense of self and reconciles the pain of institutional life. For Christine, this time with her sister allows her to see LeAnne as a complete and fully realized individual for the first time. 

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This intimate and poignant story unfolds around themes of love, healing, and reconciliation. As the river nurtures their bond, the film captures the transformative power of sisterhood, the beauty of the natural world, and the complexity of finding peace at the end of life.