JANUARY 2013
SUNRAYS | 61
ONLINE:
SCTXCA.ORG
common goal,” she said.
The money raised from the Sun City
Rally for the Cure is designated to go
to Komen Austin for research purposes,
but that’s never really been the main
purpose of the tournament for Barbara.
“
The goal has never been to raise as
much money as possible; the goal has
been to raise as many spirits as possible,”
Barbara said. “We have a lot of survi-
vors, and families of non-survivors, so
the whole thing is to raise their spirits.
That’s more important than money, I
think.”
Philanthropist of the Year
Barbara said she’s always been a char-
ity person. Before organizing the rally
for Komen, she worked with the girls at
Annunciation Maternity Home.
“
I’ve just always felt that you should give
something back—and if you have the
opportunity and the know-how, I mean,
why not?” Barbara said.
In April 2012, Komen Austin awarded
Barbara the Pink Diamond Award for
Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year
for her work as Rally Ambassador for
Sun City.
Barbara said that a lot of the people she
met at the award ceremony were shocked
that she herself isn’t a cancer survivor.
“
They said, ‘Well, why do you do it?’ And
I said, ‘Well, obviously, for the love of
doing it and helping people raise their
spirits.’ I’ve got a lot of friends who are
survivors, and, unfortunately, this is my
14
th year [in Sun City], and I’ve lost a
lot of friends—cancer can be insidious,”
Barbara said.
But at the Sun City Texas Rally for the
Cure each year, she sees families and
friends of both non-survivors and sur-
vivors, seas of pink on the courses and
in the Ballroom, happy and willing to
give whatever they can.
For Barbara, that spirit of love and giv-
ing is unique and makes any goal a suc-
cess—and, in her case, it really shows.
The 2013 Sun City Rally for the
Cure is scheduled for October
25.
To donate or volunteer, or
for more information, contact
Barbara Berry at 512-864-3808
or
.
PHOTO BY JOHN JOHNSON
PHOTO BY JOHN JOHNSON
