March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Sherry's Hope is the story of unshakeable faith and the courage to smile in the face of an uncertain future, with an ongoing desire to serve, comfort and help. These are some of the qualities that caused a 44-year-old wife and mother of two to touch the lives of people in her community, and they continue to motivate others to finish a race that she began.
In February 2003, Sharon “Sherry” Patterson Whitaker began to experience discomfort in her side. With no real sense of urgency, she visited a nurse practitioner several weeks later, at the encouragement of a friend. She was hospitalized immediately, and a few days later, was diagnosed with a terminal form of colon cancer known as adenocarcinoma.
Sherry and her husband, Gary, discussed their options with physicians, and she began an aggressive treatment plan that included surgery and three rounds of chemotherapy. Despite valiant efforts and a positive outlook, Sherry Whitaker lost her battle on May 12, 2004.
There was an outpouring of love and appreciation by those who knew Sherry, and a few weeks later a close friend approached Gary with an idea about honoring her friend, a 5k run/walk to raise awareness and support others in her honor. Sherry’s Run was born.
Over the years that one-time, grassroots 5K event grew into a Christ centered, non-profit organization called Sherry’s Hope; operating year-round to offer financial assistance to families in Wilson County (TN) and the surrounding communities who are fighting cancer.
What started as a love for one woman has turned into an explosion of grace for this community. No one who gathered together on that Saturday in September 2004 could have ever imagined that one 5K event called Sherry’s Run would grow into a Christ-centered, grassroots, non-profit organization called Sherry’s Hope that works year-round to serve our neighbors in Wilson County (TN) and the surrounding communities who are battling cancer.
The love and support for Sherry and her family is not only a testament to who she was as a Christian, wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend but also of the amazing generosity of our wonderful community! It is also evidence of the lasting impression that one person can make in this life. While Sherry’s battle in the flesh was lost in 2004, the spirit she showed throughout her life continues as a legacy that endures touching more and more lives every day.
The funds that were raised from those first few 5K events went to cancer research in the hopes that a cure for cancer, colon cancer in particular would be found. It was in 2008 that an idea to use the funds that were raised to provide hope to those battling cancer in our community by offering financial assistance with everyday needs was presented. That idea began the transition from a fundraising event to a full-fledged 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Since that point in 2008, we have been blessed with outstanding support from our community and as a result, we have been able to help thousands of families in their battles with cancer. Healing begins with hope and our community provides hope to so many of our neighbors.
During that time of growth, the foundation members wanted to reach more people in order to help families who are hurting and struggling financially because of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. As the board and staff prayed and began to talk about how to get that message out, it became clear that a name change was the best way forward.
So, on January 1, 2021, Sherry’s Run began operating under the name, Sherry’s Hope. The change to Sherry’s Hope was seen as a simple way to better share the mission of offering the hope of Christ to families who are hurting because of a cancer diagnosis. The 5K event our community has come to cherish will continue on as the Sherry’s Run 5K Run/Walk Event to benefit Sherry’s Hope and will always be an important fundraiser for the work carried out by the organization.
If you would like to learn more about Sherry’s Hope, please contact the office.
For Patient Assistance, please call 615-925-9932 or email help@sherryshope.org.
For general information, event information, or event sponsorship information, please call 615-925-2592 or email info@sherryshope.org.
If you would like to support the mission donate online at sherryshope.com or mail to Sherry’s Hope, P.O. Box 8, Lebanon, TN 37088. Sherry’s Hope is a 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible under section 170 of the code.
Her spirit continues as her legacy.
One event grew to a Christ-centered, grassroots, non-profit working year-round serving community members battling cancer.
