The faithful support of many local businesses is the backbone of a local faith based organization called Sherry’s Run. “Many of our corporate sponsors have been with us for 5, 10 or even 15 years,” says Jane Hay, Executive Board Member. “So many of the business owners give because they care and want to give back to their community.”

One such faithful sponsor is Absolute Kubota co-owner, Matt Bryson. Bryson, born and raised in Wilson County, cares very much for this community and for that reason has been a dedicated sponsor of Sherry’s Run for many years. This year, however, the Sherry’s Run event takes on a whole new meaning for the Bryson family. You see this year Matt’s wife, BJ, will be participating as a cancer survivor.

In October 2017, the Brysons had just returned from a fall break vacation with their two daughters. BJ noticed that she had not been feeling well for several weeks, but she soon received the happy news that she was pregnant and assumed that she was experiencing normal pregnancy symptoms.

Just a few days after visiting her OB/GYN, BJ received an unexpected call. A young mom, otherwise healthy and happy, got the devastating news that she was facing a cancer diagnosis. It was a rare form of cancer called Trophoblastic Disease, and it was aggressive. “I remember sitting in the restaurant just after leaving the doctor’s office,” says BJ. “I was watching everyone around me going about their lives and thinking, ‘my world has stopped.’”

Soon after, she began a grueling six-month battle, with chemo treatments every week. There were some scary moments, including a collapsed lung and weeks when her body stopped responding to the chemo. “There were times when I felt like I simply couldn’t take another one,” says BJ, “but Matt never left my side and my friends and family rallied around me. You don’t really understand how much you are loved until you go through something like this.”

Matt even sought after a shared community for his wife and found other women in this region who had walked through her same journey. They became an invaluable support for BJ. “I understand why Sherry’s Run is so needed in our community,” says BJ. “It’s not just about the financial support…it’s about having someone to walk through it with you.”

BJ is now almost three months cancer free and is gearing up to have a big team for this year’s Sherry’s Run 5K Run/Walk event. “This experience has changed me from the inside out,” says BJ, “I know God has a plan for me and I am ready to use this for His glory. We were so overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of this community, and we just want to pay that forward any way we can.”

“Each year we select a cancer survivor to honor at the run, and it was such an easy decision this year,” says Hay. “Matt and BJ are such a blessing to our community, and we are grateful for the opportunity to honor them in this way.”

Registration is open for the 15^th annual Sherry’s Run 5K Run/Walk scheduled for Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 8:00 a.m.  Click here to register or join a team today. Come join us as we make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer right here in our community.

Your support allows us to assist cancer patients 52 weeks a year with gas, groceries, utility bills, housing payments, prescription assistance, health insurance premiums, medical bills, and colonoscopy assistance.

To learn more about Sherry’s Run, please call 615-925-2592 or email info@sherrysrun.org. To refer someone who might qualify for assistance, please call 615-925-9932 or email sherrysrunhelp@gmail.com.

“Serving Cancer Patients 15 Years Running”