The No. 19 car dedicated to SherryStrong.org at the Bass Pro Shops Great American Night Race at the Bristol Motor Speedway this Saturday night
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Johnny Morris and the entire Bass Pro Shops family proudly support longtime friends Martin Truex Jr. and Sherry Pollex in their efforts to raise awareness about ovarian cancer. Morris today announces the dedication space on the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops/SherryStrong.org Toyota Camry during Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Great American Night Race at the Bristol Motor Speedway to fight cancer. SherryStrong.org is a subsidiary of the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation. The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation is dedicated to creating awareness about childhood and ovarian cancer. SherryStrong.org is named in honor of Sherry Pollex, longtime partner of NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr. and cancer survivor. It is an educational website that’s mission is to create awareness about ovarian cancer and provide resources to women battling the disease.
After being diagnosed in 2014 with stage 3c ovarian cancer, Sherry has undergone three major surgeries and over forty chemotherapy treatments. But through it all, she continues to give hope to other women battling this disease. Educating others about ovarian cancer symptoms and sharing her cancer journey has given her a greater purpose. Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops are humbled by the opportunity to support such a noble cause, led by such a strong and courageous person.
Truex Jr., Pollex and the Morris family have a long friendship that has involved time at the racetrack and time in the great outdoors. Bass Pro Shops has sponsored Martin Truex Jr. through three championships—the 2004 and 2005 Xfinity Series and the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series titles. The friendship they have built along the way has spanned not only the great times and championships, but difficult ones as well. In 2014, Sherry Pollex was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer.
“Johnny has been a part of our lives for over 15 years. He has always held a special place in my heart for the amazing work he does for wildlife conservation and the many different causes he supports, including mine,” Sherry explains. “Johnny, Jeanie and JP have been so supportive of everything we do on and off the track. We are so grateful for their friendship and to be part of this amazing night!” The dedication of the No. 19 car at Bristol Speedway on Saturday night to SherryStrong.org raises the profile of the organization and increases its capacity to fight cancer.
An extension of the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation, SherryStrong.org is a movement that was born in 2014 with Sherry Pollex’s diagnosis. “Fans started posting support on social media with the hashtag SherryStrong. My friends and family encouraged me to share the story and my cancer journey to help others,” Pollex recalls. “It’s taken on a life of its own.”
In November of last year Pollex and Truex Jr. opened the Sherry Strong Integrative Oncology Clinic at the Novant Health Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. Sherry benefited greatly from integrative medicines during her treatment and wanted to make them available to others. Integrative medicines include therapies such as acupuncture, yoga, oncology massage and others designed to support the mental and spiritual wellness of those undergoing traditional cancer treatment programs. The clinic aims to make these therapies, which are not covered by insurance, available to patients who couldn’t otherwise afford them. “We wouldn’t have been able to do it without Johnny’s support,” Sherry describes.
Dedication of sponsorship on the No. 19 car during Saturday’s race at the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at the Bristol Motor Speedway—an event that will be nationally televised on NBC Sports—provides incredible exposure to the cause and the fight against childhood and ovarian cancer. “It’s a huge opportunity. Coverage on TV of the race at Bristol. It will help us spread our message of hope for kids and women. We are so, so grateful—especially during the month of September, which is childhood and ovarian cancer month,” Pollex says. In addition to dedication of space on the No. 19 car for SherryStrong.org, Pollex will also serve as the Grand Marshall and give the command to “Start Your Engines!” for the Bass Pro Shops Great American Night Race. All told it will be a big night for Pollex, SherryStrong.org and the battle against cancer.
As for Johnny Morris, he is humbled and honored for the opportunity. “Our entire Bass Pro Shops family thinks the world of Martin and Sherry. We are proud to support their remarkable efforts in the battle against ovarian cancer,” Morris explains. Jeanie Morris understands the importance of the foundation’s work intimately. She echoes this gratitude, “This terrible disease has affected my family, so I know firsthand how important Sherry’s passion is. Thank you, Sherry, for working for others while fighting your battle. You are amazing!”
To join in supporting Sherry Pollex, Martin Truex Jr. and their fight against childhood and ovarian cancer, please visit www.SherryStrong.org. Tune into NBC Sports on Saturday night to see Martin Truex Jr. drive the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops/SherryStrong.org Toyota Camry at the Bass Pro Shops Night Race.
About SherryStrong.org
SherryStrong.org is dedicated to improving awareness of early warning signs of ovarian cancer. Named for Sherry Pollex, cancer survivor and longtime partner of NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr, SherryStrong.org is part of the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation. The foundation’s mission includes awareness and education on ovarian cancer. Early warning signs of the disease can include bloating, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, pelvic or abdominal pain, and urinary symptoms. Women who have persistent symptoms for more than a few weeks should consult a doctor. Other ovarian cancer facts include, that women are often diagnosed late stage due to lack of an early detection test. A woman’s risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is 1 in 78. More than 21,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer annually. For more information or to donate, please visit: www.SherryStrong.org
About Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.”
