Volunteer Spotlight: Harriet Shirley
Harriet Shirley, right, with CARES Executive Director Karri Morgan
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we’re happy to share stories and insights from some of our volunteers across the country. Harriet Shirley serves on our Event Committee in Nashville for Scott Hamilton & Friends, selling tickets to her network and spending the day preparing the ballroom and Silent Auction spaces.
What inspired you to volunteer with CARES? Do you have a personal connection to cancer that makes CARES meaningful to you?
I wanted to volunteer with CARES for a couple of reasons, but mostly because my younger brother Bob was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer in 2002, when I was pregnant with my twins. Bob was given a horrible prognosis of less than 6 months to live initially, however, he beat those odds and lived another 5 years, passing away on May 20, 2007. During his nearly 5-year battle, he tried numerous treatments that all took a tremendous toll on him and on his family. Because CARES focuses on researching treatment and cures that spare the patient while targeting the cancer, I knew that I owed it to him to get involved in that battle. I also got involved because of my youngest daughter's experience with the Scott Hamilton Skating Academy. Yep, one of the twins (born in 2003) ended up LOVING figure skating, and when Scott started his skating program at the brand new Ford Ice Center in Antioch, I began spending so much time there that it became a second home. Actually MEETING Scott and having him coach my daughter several times spurred me on as well. His testimony is so powerful, and he is such a kind person - how anyone can hear him speak and not be galvanized into action is beyond me.
Can you share a memorable experience, event, or moment from your time volunteering?
Every Scott Hamilton & Friends event has been memorable...between the world-champion and Olympic skaters to the acclaimed musicians, the shows themselves unfailingly bring me to tears. They are so powerful and emotional! But what I really enjoy the most is the behind-the-scenes work that goes into pulling that event off! I have made some friends that I consider life-long friends through my involvement with CARES. We have laughed together, cried together, worked together, had fun together, prayed together - I cannot imagine not doing this every year until I am no longer here! No single event or experience, but the culmination of being involved with such amazing, driven, and caring people has profoundly impacted me.
How has being involved with our foundation changed your perspective on cancer research? How do you feel knowing you’re supporting life-saving research?
I was clueless about how research was funded and how it is an ongoing significant effort to keep labs, scientists, and doctors working on seeking ways to cure and/or mitigate cancer's impact on people. I am SO PROUD of being involved and donating time and financial resources to this cause, particularly now that so much government funding for research is being slowed, reduced, or halted altogether. We have to stand in the gap to keep this going; no one needs to suffer like my brother did, and no family needs to lose a son/brother/father/uncle the way we lost him.
What would you say to someone considering volunteering with CARES?
DO IT! Seriously, what are you waiting for? EVERYONE is impacted by cancer in some way - I'm convinced of this. So why not get involved ang HELP by volunteering with CARES?!? You will NEVER regret it! And you'll get to hang with some amazing folks as well.
Harriet Shirley, left, at CARES “Sip Boldly Soiree” event