The Breakfast Club brings support, resources, and education to St. Louis
Sherrill Jackson (RN, MHSA, BSN, CPNP), a medical professional and dedicated member of Centennial Christian Church, founded The Breakfast Club, a group dedicated to supporting women in the St. Louis area with breast cancer. Through education, support, and awareness, The Breakfast Club has helped countless women over the years thanks to Jackson’s courage and leadership.
In December 1991, Jackson was diagnosed with breast cancer during a routine mammogram checkup. Opting to start treatment in January so she could enjoy the holidays with her family, Jackson began her healing journey with a mastectomy and chemotherapy, spending about a year going through treatment and recovery.
“It was five years before I admitted to our congregation that I was a breast cancer survivor. At that time, there were five women who had breast cancer who never shared it,” Jackson said.
As a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, supervisor of a radiology department, and a breast cancer survivor, Jackson became a trusted figure at Centennial Christian Church that people would come to with questions and stories about breast cancer in their own lives. When another woman in the church who had breast cancer shared with Jackson that she was receiving advice from people who had never experienced the disease, Jackson suggested that they meet with other survivors over breakfast. This humble gathering of strong, courageous women became The Breakfast Club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with several ministries across the St. Louis community.
“I’ve always worked with medically underserved and uninsured populations. I thought at first when I got breast cancer, why did it happen to me? But looking back, I thought, well, why not you? There are women out here that need education and information,” Jackson said.
As The Breakfast Club began its work, Jackson noticed a gap in health equity, particularly across the Delmar Divide, a socioeconomic and racial divide that has been in St. Louis since the 20th century. There was a lack of information and resources among Black women across this divide, and Jackson sought to bridge the gap, bringing breast cancer awareness, education, and resources across the entire community.
“I started The Breakfast Club because I felt like I did not see any of the services that were needed for African American women. Breast cancer doesn’t pick and choose. We need to help these women out here and be more visible,” Jackson said.
One of the first initiatives The Breakfast Club took on was Faith on the Move, a program bringing mammography vans to churches. Beginning at Centennial Christian Church, Faith on the Move is now in 40 churches providing free mammograms. Women report back with their results, and if diagnosed with breast cancer, The Breakfast Club provides further resources including The Breast Health Buddy Program. This initiative provides a buddy for nine months of the cancer journey to attend treatments and help in any way necessary. Additionally, The Breakfast Club provides financial support and resources that may not be covered by insurance, such as gloves and sleeves for swelling from lymphedema. Since 1997, The Breakfast Club has provided all of these services and more, educating and supporting those with breast cancer and their families.
Jackson’s faith remains integral to her work, teaching her that sometimes the best thing you can do is provide a listening ear to those who need it most. The support of friends and family, like the support she received from her husband Ronald, can make an enormous impact.
If you or your congregation have questions for Sherrill Jackson, feel free to contact her at 314-560-0661 or sherrilljackson23@gmail.com.
