Some people are born fighters. Others become fighters because life never gave them another choice. Erin Dash of the Sharkey family is both. At just 39 years old, Erin received news no one should ever have to hear: a diagnosis of Stage 4 colon and ovarian cancer. In an instant, life changed. But if there is one thing her family knows about Erin, it is this: never underestimate a woman who has fought for everything she has. Erin is a devoted wife to Samran Dash and mother to her two daughters, Amaya and Emily, a self-made entrepreneur, a hard worker, and someone with an incredibly big heart. Nothing in Erin’s life has been handed to her. She has built her life through sacrifice, perseverance, faith, and determination. She is a winner. She is a fighter. And her story is not finished.

Right now, Erin’s family is asking for support so she can access the care she needs and keep fighting. Funds raised will go toward Erin’s functional medicine cancer treatment program, a 12-week whole-body approach that works alongside chemotherapy. This program includes testing to help determine which chemotherapy Erin may respond to best, immune-support supplements, work with a dietician, a specific diet plan, and Monday-through-Friday treatment sessions. The goal is not only to attack the cancer cells, but also to support Erin’s whole body through treatment so she can focus on healing.

Strength is not always about how much someone can carry alone. Sometimes it is about allowing the people who love them to help carry it too. Erin has been fighting for everything her entire life, and now it is her community’s turn to fight for her. Her family is choosing faith over fear, hope over doubt, and love over everything. They believe in the power of prayer, in the strength of community, and in the beautiful things that can happen when people come together in life’s hardest moments. If you feel moved to donate, please know that every gift will go toward supporting Erin and her family as they navigate this journey. If you cannot donate, please share her story, say a prayer, and send some love. More than anything, this is about giving a mother more moments with her daughters and reminding Erin that she has an army of people standing behind her. To everyone joining in this journey, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for loving Erin, believing in her, and standing beside the Sharkey family. Erin is a winner. Erin is a fighter. And her story is far from finished. Let’s show Erin what it means to never fight alone.