In December 2011, Sherri White was diagnosed with breast cancer even though there was no history of cancer in her family. The love and support White received during her journey to recovery inspired her to start the nonprofit organization My Sister’s Keeper located at 16200 Euclid Ave. in East Cleveland. White’s personal experience has become her passion, which she is spreading across the county thanks to a diverse group of volunteers who assist African American women and families who have cancer.
White was initially devastated by the news of her cancer diagnosis, and as the mother of four young children she began to prepare for the worst. She also stopped caring about how she looked because she figured, “I’m going to die anyway.” But she noticed people didn’t look at her like she had cancer after she started dressing up, wearing makeup and heels.
“This made me feel better internally and gave me the strength to continue to fight,” White says.
“And as I went through my treatment, I realized that a lot of us don’t know enough about breast cancer. Growing up, I learned what goes on in this house stays in this house. But with this, the more people who know, the better.”
During her treatment, White’s employer allowed her to work from home when she could. This made her realize that a lot of women don’t have this fortune. White’s support from family, friends and community during her treatment led her to start My Sister’s Keeper to revitalize the spirit of womanhood.
“We take away those stresses, whether it be childcare, bill payment assistance, meals, nutrition or whatever they need,” White says. “We embody all aspects of being that person’s sister and taking those burdens away.”
The organization has little sisters currently in treatment, and big sisters are women who have won their battle and call to check in on the little sisters. “They answer the questions women want answered,” White says.
Demetria Larkin is a cancer survivor who was diagnosed on Jan. 20, 2023. With four children, she was devastated. When all of her hair fell out after her first treatment, she went into a depression. But her outlook changed once she connected with White and started participating in My Sister’s Keeper events.
“I didn’t want to go to the candle making and Resin to Play events, but Sherri convinced me to go, and I was glad I went,” Larkin says. “I’m glad I started participating in the events because the ladies are so wonderful, and we have a great time. Also, I think Sherri can feel when I’m down because she will call me out of nowhere and ask how I’m doing, what’s going on and what I need.”
In August, Larkin became cancer-free but will continue treatment for about another year.
Ursula Burnette was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (or DCIS) on Jan. 6, 2022. Like White and Larkin, she was devastated initially but more concerned for her siblings because their mother had recently died from cancer. Larkin connected with White based on a friend’s recommendation.
“A friend at work told me to call My Sister’s Keeper, which I did and left a message,” Burnette says. “It was a Sunday evening, which I will never forget because I was lying in bed depressed and didn’t want to live anymore. But Sherri called, and we had a long conversation that changed everything. She told me not to worry — you have sisters here.”
Burnette graduated as a big sister in July 2023 and wants other women to know that they will be loved, that anything they need, they will have at their disposal, such as someone to take them to appointments or talk to any time of the day or night.
My Sister’s Keeper fulfills its mission through White’s vision, volunteers who possess a wide range of skills in various professional backgrounds and community partners. New Life Cathedral donates office space and spiritual support; other churches help raise funds and get wig donations.
The organization also hosts recurring events that include “Reviving Prayer Circle,” “My Sister’s Circle,” which is an educational forum, “A Resin to Play,” which provides art therapy, “A Walk in Her Shoes,” an annual community awareness walk, “Pretty in Pink,” an annual fashion show, and many more events every year.
“We try to capture the whole holistic approach of caring for our sisters,” White says. “That’s physically, emotionally, spiritually and whatever it takes.”
LaTonya Fore-Williams is a registered nurse practitioner who serves as the nutrition consultant for My Sister’s Keeper. She was referred to White by the Black Nurses Society to assist sisters in understanding how nutrition relates to cancer management.
“I get a lot of questions from the sisters related to managing the side effects to chemo such as decrease in appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and food tasting different,” Fore-Williams says. “I start by understanding their current nutritional status, then focus on what they can tolerate. I also provide information on making sure they get protein with each meal because it helps with strength and maintaining muscle mass.”
Lavada Tillie is a dual-certified nurse practitioner and midwife who serves as My Sister’s Keeper’s director of Health and Wellness and co-chair of the Prayer Circle and My Sister’s Circle. Tillie uses her relationship with other organizations to bring in guest speakers and do fundraising. For example, licensed nurse practitioner Nicole Berry holds
weekly online group therapy sessions with little sisters, which are designed to allow participants to transcend beyond their journey to a path of self-discovery, mindfulness and positive energy. Nu Chi Cleveland is a local chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc., a professional nursing organization raising funds for My Sister’s Keeper.
Stacy Ward-Braxton is the founder, CEO and chief creative officer of A Resin to Play, which does a monthly creative arts session where all of the sisters come to do non-clinical art therapy. “We do a lot with inner healing and creativity
because there is healing in the art process,” Ward-Braxton says. “Research shows that engaging in art activities such as coloring for 20 minutes a day can release and reduce anxiety.”
My Sister’s Keeper held its sixth annual Walk in Her Shoes community walk fundraiser in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood this year. The goal of the Walk is to bring attention and resources to marginalized communities and
advocate for equal access to cancer care.
“We are so blessed by the community for trusting us to do what we say we will do,” White says. “Everyone who helps us carry out our mission, including our executive board and board of directors, do so with no payment for services. Also, our events director, J’Nay Blackwell, embodies the essence of what the organization is about.”
On Oct. 16, 2023, the planners of My Sister’s Keeper Walk in Her Shoes were awarded The City of Cleveland
Champions award by Councilman Kevin Conwell. But others have recognized the organization’s work, too.
“As things became more virtual during the pandemic in 2020, more people found us online and began to reach out,” White says. “We reached different audiences and people in different states who didn’t have that type of community as My Sister’s Keeper. For instance, in Kentucky, they do not have any African American support groups at all, and through word of mouth, news about us started spreading.”
Currently, women afflicted with cancer in Kentucky, Texas and Chicago participate in My Sister’s Keeper events virtually. The organization has also begun to work with prospective partners to start a chapter in other cities and states.
The organization’s website has a resources page that can connect women with an online community, mentoring services, education, low-cost and/or no-cost medical care and medications, care packages and other items.
