Sherry's Run

Monies Raised to Aid Local Cancer Patients

Sherry’s Run, Slated for Sept. 12th, is drawing record numbers…with over 2,300 participants registered and over 73 teams participating with a few days to go it is not too late to register. Pictured is the 2008 start – which drew of 1,680 participants and 57 teams.

LEBANON, TENN. – September 8, 2009– The upcoming Sherry’s Run (5k Run/Walk) slated for Saturday, September 12^th is poised to be the largest in terms of participants and teams.  According to Tonyia Watson, Co-Chair and Board Member of Sherry’s Run, “The Wilson County Fair isn’t the only local event that is breaking records for participation – as of today, Sherry’s Run had over 2,300 participants registered and over 73 teams participating.  We are thrilled with the tremendous response and feel fortunate that the money raised will help those folks in our community who are hurting.”

“We receive calls daily asking for help from Sherry’s Run.  If cancer isn’t enough of a worry, the financial trouble it brings is monumental” states Watson.  When faced with cancer – the worry of how I can afford the needed test, or procedure, or surgery or prescription; or how can I pay for my house, or groceries or utilities, when I cannot work any longer due to my illness, is overwhelming.

The following are a few of the stories from cancer patients being helped by Sherry’s Run:

Emilie Brewer

When Emilie Brewer took a prescription from her oncologist to the pharmacy, she walked away empty handed. Although Emilie, who is in her early 60s, has insurance, she couldn’t afford the $300 co-pay for the very expensive drug.

Disheartened that she couldn’t afford the medicine her doctor said she needed to treat the cancer, Emilie called his office and told the staff, “I can’t take that medicine. I can’t afford it. You’ll have to give me something else.”

The nurse told Emilie she didn’t think there was any other drug that could be substituted, but asked Emilie to stay on hold. In a moment, Lisa O’Guinn, works at Tennessee Oncology and serves as the office’s liaison for Sherry’s Run, came on the line.

“Go back to the pharmacy and get your medicine. I contacted Sherry’s Run about your situation and they will take care of the co-pay for you,” Lisa told Emilie.

Flooded with relief at not having to do without the medication she needed, Emilie returned to the pharmacy at Wal-mart (she works in sporting goods there), and got her medicine. “Every three weeks or so, Sherry’s Run would call the pharmacy and tell them to go ahead and fill my prescription and they would take care of the co-pay.”

That was back in 2008, but Emilie has been battling cancer much longer than that.

“It started out as breast cancer in 2002, then in 2006 I was diagnosed with it in my liver – it’s still called breast cancer, but it showed up in my liver and a few spots in the bone,” Emilie says.

“I’m doing good. I feel very blessed. I’m able to work, and I’ve had a lot of prayers going up for me throughout this,” Emilie says.

Sherry’s Run paid the $300 co-pay a few times before Emilie met the deductible on her insurance, at which time the medication was fully covered by insurance. But she can’t imagine what would have happened if Sherry’s Run had not come to her aid in her time of need.

“If it hadn’t been for Sherry’s Run, I would probably have been depressed over the bills – let this bill go to buy my medicine, or let that bill go. I probably wouldn’t have been able to buy the medicine. I would have had to go another route.” she says. “And I know they will be there if I need them again. It does give you peace of mind.”

Emilie is fortunate to have family to support and encourage her. She lives in Norene and shares a home with her son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren.

When she found out Sherry’s Run would help pay for her medicine, Emilie was surprised. While she had heard of Sherry’s Run, she thought the program’s focus was on raising money to fund research for a cure for cancer – not to actually step in and help pay for drugs for cancer patients.

“I had no idea. I just thought they collected money for research for colon cancer,” she comments. “They do so many wonderful things.”

Emilie encourages people to get involved and support Sherry’s Run, because “If people were aware of how things change when you get cancer, things that we take for granted, I think they would be glad to participate in Sherry’s Run – whether through making a donation or participating in the run.”

“I tell the people I work with and go to church with what Sherry’s Run has done for me. I’m not ashamed of it. I’m very grateful,” Emilie adds.

W. Turk

Riding his Harley Davidson was W. Turk’s favorite pastime. But now, he’s trying to sell his beloved bike. He isn’t able to take the long rides he used to, and can’t afford to continue to make the payments.  The ardent biker says he has held onto the bike a lot longer than he would have, thanks to help from his family, who knows how much it means to him. “My life is my Harley Davidson,” he says.

“Turk,” as he is known to friends, has found help in other places as well.

Sherry’s Run, for example, came to his aid after he was diagnosed with colon cancer in February 2008.

“I’m in my 18^th month,” Turk says of his battle with the devastating illness.

He has taken several different medications, and his co-pay often was around $50 – more than he could afford, since he hasn’t been able to work since he was diagnosed.

“I had gotten off work, and I went for a ride on my bike,” Turk recalls of that fateful day.

After returning to his Lebanon home, Turk bent down to lift a steel plate he used as a ramp to wheel the Harley onto.

“When I picked it up, it hurt like heck,” he says. “I put the Harley in the shed and closed the door. Then I felt something running down my leg, and touched the back of my pants. It was blood.”

Turk, who was 44 years old, drove himself to the hospital, and was sent for an emergency colonoscopy the very next morning. In less than a week, he went into surgery.

“I’d never had any drugs in my life until that day,” Turk comments.

What was supposed to have been fairly limited surgery turned major quickly when the surgeon found much more cancer than the colonoscopy had revealed. When it was over, the physician and his surgical team had removed over a foot of Turk’s colon.

Turk was introduced to Sherry’s Run “when I got flat broke,” he says. They helped me get my medication, which I couldn’t afford. And they helped me with gas money to get around town to my doctor’s appointments.”

When he ran out of money, Turk says, “I told them down at the chemo place that I couldn’t afford the medicine. That’s how I found out about Sherry’s Run.”

Without Sherry’s Run, Turk says he would have “had to go without. They picked up what insurance didn’t cover.” He says if it weren’t for Sherry’s Run, he would be picking out a casket.

“A lot of people with cancer simply cannot afford their needed prescriptions.” he says.  “My family kept my insurance up, and if not for Sherry’s Run, I still couldn’t have made the co-pay. My family can’t handle the burden of all the medical expenses.”

Patricia Shaver

Patricia Shaver of Lebanon got a devastating diagnosis in December 2008: stage four colon cancer. With no insurance, Patricia faced not only a battle with cancer, but a terrible financial strain.

She found out about Sherry’s Run from Tennessee Oncology.

“The medicine is very expensive,” says Patricia, who is now at home on Hospice Care. Sherry’s Run helped her throughout her fight with cancer by paying for medications.

Despite her bleak diagnosis, Patricia says knowing Sherry’s Run was there to help and encourage her was a relief.

“If I hadn’t gotten cancer, I wouldn’t have met all these wonderful people who work with Sherry’s Run,” Patricia says. “They helped me a lot.”

Patricia says getting to talk with people involved with Sherry’s Run – like Lisa O’Guinn at Tennessee Oncology – helped her through rough times. “She’s so friendly. She always takes the time to talk with you.”

Gary Whitaker, Sherry’s Run Board Member states, “Within our community there are a lot of big hearts that want to do something to help someone else –  Sherry’s Run, helps put those connections together to make a significant difference in the lives of those who are hurting.  If we can help one person in the whole world it will be worth it; because, one person is the whole world to somebody.”

To help make a difference, please join us for the sixth annual Sherry’s Run is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 8 a.m. in Lebanon, beside the main office of Wilson Bank & Trust, 623 West Main Street.  Make a commitment to become involved this year.

The mission of Sherry’s Run is to benefit those affected by cancer, with an emphasis on colon cancer.  Sherry’s Run (www.sherrysrun.org) is a 501 (c) (3) organization.  It was started in memory of Sharon “Sherry” Patterson Whitaker who died at the age of 44 from colon cancer. Donations are tax deductible and can be made online.  Funds received serve also to help those locally who suffer with cancer. For more information on Sherry’s Run, please call 615-975-1081 or 615-218-8810 or visit online.