Remarkable Women Finalist: Jennifer Berry
DAPHNE, Ala. (WKRG) — Throughout March, we are featuring Remarkable Women in our community. One of those women is Jennifer Berry.
She started a foundation in honor of her daughter, Caroline, who died of childhood cancer in 2018. It’s called the Berry Strong Foundation.
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Caroline Berry was diagnosed with Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in 2016 at the age of 14. After trying many different treatments including chemotherapy, she passed away two years later at the age of 16. Her mother, Jennifer, said Caroline was determined to raise awareness and money to fight childhood cancer. She wanted to raise enough money to fund a research grant.
After Caroline died, Jennifer made it her mission to continue what her daughter had started. Through the Berry Strong Foundation, she has raised over $175,000 for research grants and to help other families at USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital who are fighting cancer.
“Her wish was to raise enough money to fund a childhood cancer research grant,” Jennifer said. “We partnered with the St. Baldridge Foundation which is the largest funder of research grants in the United States. We started a Heroes Fund in her name. Last year, year 5, we were able to fund a childhood cancer research grant in her name.”
Jennifer’s friend, Kym Krebs, nominated her for WKRG’s Remarkable Women Award. She met Jennifer when her son was in the hospital fighting cancer at the same time as Caroline. Her son survived his cancer. She says Jennifer has turned her grief into action.
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“Caroline talks through her,” Krebs said. “Some parents don’t want to listen to that. She listens to it full force. She is 100% in this game. She is never going to say no.”
Berry said she is inspired by her daughter.
“I am doing it for her,” Jennifer said. “She is guiding me. She is the one who is remarkable, not necessarily me.”
For more information on the Berry Strong Foundation, click here.
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