Meet Sheryl C., our 2024 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day Milestone Award Winner!
Since her first 3-Day 15 years ago, Sheryl has walked 34 times and has raised more than $191,000. Not only that, but the team that she captains with Dana Bilbray, STEPS, was this year’s top fundraising team on the New England and Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Days. Team STEPS is closing in on $2 million dollars raised since their inception in 2009, with their team’s lifetime fundraising history just shy of $1.9 million STEPS has no off-season; they train and fundraise all year round and are instrumental in ensuring the success of the Susan G. Komen Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day!
“My name is Sharon F., Sheryl’s twin sister, and I wanted to share some things about her from my perspective. Sheryl is a natural leader—leading by example, encouraging, challenging, removing barriers and inspiring others.”
What was your sister’s inspiration to do her first Susan G. Komen 3-Day®?
Her inspiration is both professional and personal. Professionally she is a Family Medicine physician and reminds patients that only about 15% of women have a family history of breast cancer, so it is critical for the 85% without a family history of breast cancer to ALSO get regular mammograms. It’s also personal, since breast cancer was diagnosed in our maternal aunt in her thirties, in our paternal aunt in her sixties and in several of our cousins on both sides. Sheryl inspires us all to be better versions of ourselves and to help those around us.
What has brought her back to the 3-Day® year after year?
Sheryl has been on the front lines as a doctor for over 30 years. While the mission of Susan G. Komen® is to help eradicate breast cancer, she sees it as much more. The Komen 3-Day is an opportunity for her to impact the overall health and well-being of others. She helps teammates accomplish goals they did not think they could obtain, taking each step with them, including helping them with hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, weight loss, self-confidence, and more. Sheryl often kicks off the weekly training walks with a brief medical education topic then puts purpose to the perspiration by asking who we are walking for that day. We walk for friends, family and coworkers who are newly tossed into the whirlwind of a cancer diagnosis and for all those who have been affected by breast cancer, some surviving and some not. There are too many stories and too many affected by breast cancer. By returning year after year, Sheryl continues the support, increases awareness, educates, motivates, and reaches the next generation so that perhaps one day we won’t have to walk anymore.
What is the secret to her 3-Day fundraising success?
Fundraising is challenging, but since team STEPS started in 2009, every person on our team who has wanted to walk in the 3-Day has been able to do so. Sheryl issues various challenges to the team then personally donates to anyone who meets the challenge — like donating to teammates if they get a mammogram; brilliant! I updated my mammogram one year because of her. Thanks, Sis! Sheryl has either donated, matched or encouraged others to collectively raise $1.8 million dollars on team STEPS. She is so passionate about making a difference in those affected by breast cancer that people often approach her to ask if they can donate.
What is the best advice she would give to anyone walking the 3-Day?
- My sister would tell you to join a team, and, of course, Sheryl would want you to join her team STEPS!
- She would encourage you to go to a training walk, reminding you that you don’t have to be an athlete. Not everyone has to walk every step, but by showing up you take more steps than those who didn’t.
- She would say never underestimate the power of giving away a free T-shirt (or anything else)! She will quite often give something to someone who donated, or someone recently diagnosed with breast cancer to let them know she cares. It starts a conversation, makes a connection, and tells a story. It says, “I’m part of something that makes a difference. Join me.” Sheryl has also bought things to give away to people who show up for training walks — like a buff to help with heat exhaustion or like a device that will break a car window if needed in an emergency and she may include some sort of short health or safety talk to go with it — it’s powerful! She has used it over and over.
What’s a fun fact about her?
Sheryl is a word nerd. She is a cutthroat Words With Friends player and studies word lists. Also, one year Sheryl made a New Year’s resolution to do something in support of breast cancer every day of the year and she did it, 365 days in a row!
What are the most important lessons you’ve learned from Sheryl on the 3-Day?
To bring up the next generation of walkers, crew, scientists, researchers and keen minds. Sheryl loves the 3-Day motto, “We lay down our footsteps for this generation and the next.”
Recently, Sheryl had a competition to design a new 3-Day buff/gaiter. All ages entered, but the winners were children ages four, six and eight. Their artwork is featured on the buff with this saying “Taking STEPS big and small.” Who knows what impact that will have on these children, what impact cancer will have on them, and what impact they will have on cancer in the future?
Sheryl knows that in the fight against breast cancer, all our steps are important. She continues to learn from those who started before her, challenges and inspires those around her, and makes sure that she is lifting the next generation. She knows that each small step adds up to something bigger and pinker than any one person acting alone.
