A message from Marcy Johnson, President of the former Winnebago County, IL Pink Heals Chapter:

Sherry Gundrum was a librarian at Kinnikinnick School in Roscoe, IL for years.  I was a librarian at Prairie Hill School in South Beloit, and we were each in a district that fed into the same high school.  We became friends from working together on projects and such. Sherry was diagnosed with renal cancer, and I was diagnosed shortly after in 2008 with a rare cancer in my neck (squamous cell in my thyroid).  We both came back to work after being out from surgeries in January 2009.  I was done with treatments and looking optimistic to be on the other side, but Sherry was still battling.  We became even closer through our journeys together.

I retired in 2011 and eventually went through therapy dog training at OSF hospital with my dog Molly.  In 2012 the National Pink Heals org came to OSF for a fundraising day and I had signed up with my dog and the other therapy dogs.  It was a rainy cool day, and I wasn’t looking forward to going but had committed.  I called Sherry to see if she’d like to join me, but she wasn’t feeling well so off I went alone to fulfill my commitment.  I knew nothing about Pink Heals.  That day changed my life forever!  I learned all about what they stood for and did for people.  They told me after their fundraising at the OSF cancer center they’d be doing home visits in the area.  I immediately thought of my friend Sherry and asked Dave Graybill if they could do a visit to my friend.  He said "Yes, but you and your dog have to ride the pink bus and do all the visits with us before hers."  Of course I agreed.  Off we went in the cold damp rain to a handful of visits before Sherry’s.  I texted her friends giving them the info that we’d be to her house later that day and surprise her.  It was a great surprise and she was beyond touched!

I saw how much that visit impacted her and began inquiring and praying on how to form a local chapter.  My brother was a Rockford, IL police officer and I reached out to see if he’d help me.  Together in time we worked hard at figuring things out and got accepted to start a Winnebago County, IL chapter in 2013.  I knew I wanted a firetruck named Sherry in honor of my friend that was still battling renal cancer.  We had no money so we held a community rummage sale at prairie hill school gym.  We collected items from the community for weeks and held it one weekend explaining the proceeds would go to a new Pink Heals Winnebago County, IL Chapter fundraising for a firetruck.  South Beloit Fire Dept saw an article in the paper on us after the sale and called wanting to meet with me.  After explaining what we were about and then the township voting on it, they offered us a 1972 retired firetruck that was in storage.  We paid $1 so it was not a donation and took possession in 2014.  I reached out to several body shops inquiring about getting her painted and met with one - Auto Enhancers in Rockford, IL. He was a great guy with a big heart and I won him over.  He said he’d get the paint donated by Fox valley Paint and he’d donate painting the truck for us!  I felt so blessed and we were on our way!  The truck Sherry was revealed in August 2014 at the South Beloit Corn Boil.  Sherry rode on the truck in a procession with full escort from

many fire departments and also Rockford police dept from Cherry Valley, IL to South Beloit, IL which is about 23 miles!  She was so honored!  It was a beautiful experience to witness!

Sherry rode on the truck in the Fall Fest parade in Roscoe, IL (the town her school was in) for two years each August.  In 2016 she wasn’t doing well so couldn’t ride.  We attended anyway and she lived nearby the parade path.  As we got to the end of the parade, we set off the siren and horn in her honor.

Her caregiver that day said Sherry heard it and weakly said “that’s my truck”.

The end of September 2016, Sherry passed away after a long battle.  She was such a kind, thoughtful, loving woman that smiled all the time.  She used to call children by name in the parade as she rode on top of the truck each year.  The children loved her!   She was a very dear friend of mine and an inspiration that I long to mimic in my daily life!  Our chapter attended her Celebration of Life ceremony and brought Sherry the firetruck too.  It held so many signatures carrying so much love and hope.