Sam's Club employees honor co-worker in cancer walk
Shari Hylton was such an amazing woman that now, the year after her death, her former co-workers are honoring her memory by continuing her fight against breast cancer.
About two weeks before the birth of Shari and Steve Hylton’s first child, Alaina, in 2008, Shari found a lump on her breast. Days before Alaina’s birth, she was diagnosed with cancer.
Paul Brungardt, who worked in the pharmacy at Sam’s Club in Topeka with Shari, said she was “awesome, full of energy.”
“She made you laugh at work,” he said. “We loved her dearly.”
When Shari died Feb. 2, 2011, Brungardt said, everyone at Sam’s Club was in shock. But after being approached by the American Cancer Society in October 2011 about being part of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, Sam’s Club employees decided to use Shari’s leadership and passion in getting involved.
This year, about 40 employees will be part of a team walking Sunday in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Shari’s honor.
Jill Sittenauer, regional communications director of the American Cancer Society, said this is the third year for the Making Strides event in Topeka.
More than just a walk, the cancer society says Making Strides events are an opportunity to unite as a community to honor breast cancer survivors; raise awareness about steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer; and to raise money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease with breast cancer research, information and services, and access to mammograms for women who need them.
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