Sherry's Hope will take over streets in Lebanon to unite against cancer

Thousands fill Lebanon’s streets every second Saturday in September as a way to stand up to cancer, but there are even more than that participating.

There are also many businesses and individuals donating auction items or writing checks for Sherry’s Hope, the Christian-based nonprofit that holds Sherry’s Run 5K Run/Walk — scheduled this year on Sept. 14.

Last year’s run and walk had 2,700 people register and enabled Sherry’s Hope to assist 135 families affected by cancer with more than $300,000 in financial aid.

“I don’t know why the community has grabbed a hold of it like it has,” said Gary Whitaker, whose late wife Sherry Whitaker is the namesake and inspiration for the nonprofit run and walk fundraiser for Sherry’s Hope.

“My only guess is that we all have a Sherry, either in our family or very close to us,” said Gary Whitaker, who helps obtain auction items that are also part of Sherry’s 5K Run/Walk. “It is a way for all of us to get involved and whether we see it or not we end up helping our neighbors.”

Sherry Whitaker died in 2004 at age 44 — 12 months and 12 days after being diagnosed with colon cancer. She was well-known in Lebanon for helping others at Maple Hill Church of Christ. The run/walk is held as close to Sherry Whitaker’s Sept. 12 birthday as possible.

Beside the participants, a number of volunteers like Cumberland athletes are involved along with police and emergency crews.

And businesses throughout Wilson County contribute money and auction items as well as participate by forming teams. Buckeye Drugs in Lebanon donated $7,000 to this year's run and walk and the Lebanon Breakfast Rotary Club donated $2,500.

Around 115 teams have signed up this year as of Monday, organizers said.

“Everybody is really pumped up,” said Scott Jasper, the race director who has been involved since the start. “They are here to support people who have been battling cancer. They continue to honor people who have passed away from cancer and they continue to give hope to people still battling cancer."

This year's honorees

Each year Sherry’s Hope makes a direct connection with the community by honoring some impacted by cancer with the run/walk. This year’s honorees are:

Dr. Scott Giles: Giles is an emergency-room doctor who discovered he had colon cancer after taking an at-home screening test with no symptoms and testing positive. That led to a colonoscopy that revealed stage 3 colon cancer that spread to Giles' lymph nodes that he is fighting.

Giles continues to work even after his diagnosis elevated to stage 4.

“God blessed me with this cancer so I can tell people to get tested,” Giles said.

Kathy Piper: The grandmother discovered a lump on her stomach while at the doctor to get a COVID-19 test in 2022 that turned out to be a volleyball-sized tumor and led to a diagnosis of an aggressive form of ovarian cancer.

Piper relied on her faith through an emotional rollercoaster, and after finishing her last round of chemotherapy in July 2022, she is now cancer free and often shares her story to encourage others.

“There would have been no process if I didn’t have my faith,” Piper said.

Dr. John Pino: The Lebanon optometrist was diagnosed at age 40 with prostate cancer and passed away after a 23-year battle in 2023. Sherry Whitaker was once an employee at Pino’s office. Pino organized a team for the first Sherry’s Run events and continued be involved in as a participant and a sponsor.

Sherry’s Hope impact in 2023: By the numbers

89: Families assisted with electric and water bills.

56: Families assisted with rent or mortgage help.

61: Families assisted with medical expenses.

55: Families assisted with groceries.

If you go

Date: Saturday, Sept. 14

Location: 623 W. Main Street, Lebanon. The run starts at the intersection of West Main and Castle Heights Avenue and is for youth, adults and teams of all levels.

Roads will start to close between 6-7 a.m., until late morning.

The Lebanon Police Department will staff the run with officers, reserve officers and Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) personnel.

5K event day schedule

6:30 a.m.: Registration opens/silent auction begins7:40 a.m.: Walkers/runners line-up8:00 a.m.: Shotgun start9:15 a.m.: Silent auction ends9:30 a.m.: Awards9:45 a.m.: Closing remarks, picturesRegistration: Pre-registration through Sept. 13 is $35 for no timing chip and $45 for chip-timed runners. Day of registration is $45 for no timing chip and $55 for chip timing. T-shirts and medals while supplies last for both timed and not timed runners.

A sleep-in participant is also available for those who can’t attend and want to support – $40 for pre-registration and $50 on race day. Sleep in registrants are mailed an event T-shirt after the run while supplies last. Sleep-in registrants do not receive a medal.

For more information visit sherrysrun.org, call 615-925-2592 or email info@sherryshope.org.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Sherry's Hope will take over streets in Lebanon to march against cancer