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Media/Press Releases

Pat Lawson Named Executive Director for Sherry’s Run Organization

The Sherry’s Run organization is excited to announce the hiring of Pat Lawson as the Executive Director.  

“We are excited to have Pat join the staff of the Sherry’s Run organization,” said Scott Jasper, Sherry’s Run Executive Board member.

“He brings a wealth of leadership and management experience with him, but most importantly, he brings a desire to grow the Sherry’s Run organization in order to allow us to assist more people affected by a cancer diagnosis. The Sherry’s Run organization is unique in what we do. We aren’t just one-time assistance and then we are gone. We provide financial support, but just as important, we provide emotional support for our patients and their families.”

“The Sherry’s Run organization is amazing in their commitment to bringing hope and support to so many facing a cancer diagnosis,” said Lawson. “The opportunity to join a dedicated leadership team, an incredible and committed staff and a generous and giving community is humbling and exciting. The vision of the board to see and respond to the growing needs of the community, combined with the desire of our incredible team to embrace and support those battling cancer, provides an opportunity for all of us to become advocates. Advocacy for those we can support, those we can pray for and those to whom we can spread the word about the amazing work of the Sherry’s Run organization.”

Lawson spent almost 15 years at Cumberland University in Lebanon. He was an undergraduate then master’s student and held numerous roles within the athletic department before being named the Athletic Director in 2002. During his six years as Athletic Director at Cumberland, Lawson worked to improve the overall student-athlete experience, grew the number of sports offered, expanded the footprint of the athletic facilities and added full-time assistant coaches. Following his time at Cumberland, Lawson was the Athletic Director at Father Ryan. While there, he led and managed more than 100 coaches, 46 teams, 25 sports and more than 600 student-athletes.

Lawson was inducted into the Cumberland University Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. He is married to Sarah Hart Lawson and they have one son, Will, who is 11 years old.

Sherry’s Run, Wilson County’s largest grassroots cancer fundraising effort, is a non-profit, Christian organization that has helped hundreds of individuals and their families during some of the hardest times of their lives. With community support and involvement, Sherry’s Run helps members of our community year round through support groups; assistance with utilities, housing, prescriptions, medical bills, gas and groceries; and colonoscopy assistance.

To learn more about the Sherry’s Run organization, please call 615-925-2592. To refer someone for assistance, please call 615-925-9932 or email sherrysrunhelp@gmail.com.  To make a donation to Sherry’s Run, click here or mail donations to Sherry’s Run, P.O. Box 8, Lebanon, TN 37088-0008.


Corrie Cluck

Faith, courage, optimism and a desire to help others were qualities that defined Sharon “Sherry” Patterson Whitaker. Both before and after the energetic wife and mother was diagnosed with colon cancer, the impression she made on her family, friends and community was undeniable. While her battle in the flesh was lost in 2004, the spirit she had shown throughout life continues to touch more lives every day. Because of Sherry’s Run, a 5K run/walk benefit organized in Sherry’s memory, area cancer victims and their families can make strides toward becoming cancer survivors, and researchers are a small step closer to stopping the disease for good.