Brendan Scher: Rider Profile

Chance encounters have the capacity to make great impacts on our lives. One such encounter with a Mamma Jamma poster while waiting for tacos has Brendan Scher fundraising in honor of his family and families like his.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

I am originally from New Jersey and moved to Austin in 2017 for the full-time MBA program at UT. Prior to that I lived in NYC for seven years. I kept Austin on a pedestal while living in the northeast, even though I had never been to the city before. Hearing about the pleasant weather, laid-back lifestyle, music, tacos, craft beer, and general outdoorsy-ness—the city felt like my home away from home. I moved here with very high expectations for the city, and it exceeded all of them! Living in Austin is incredible, and I’m so thankful that the MBA program at McCombs invited me to come here. Also, I’m thankful that I was able to find a job that kept me here! I live two blocks away from the Pinthouse Pizza on Burnet—easy access to excellent pizza and beer has added extra incentive to get on my bike lately. Follow some of my adventures with Steve, my Australian Shepherd, on Instagram @stonecoldsteveaussie.

Who or what inspired you to participate in the Mamma Jamma Challenge this year?

Fundraising for breast cancer causes is very important to me, because my mom, JoAnn Scher, was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2008 while I was a junior in college. Over the course of 12 months, I watched one of the strongest and most positive people I have ever known try to maintain hope as the disease took everything from her and the people around her. She eventually passed in November 2009 from a lower respiratory infection she picked up while in the ICU after chemo devastated her immune system. And her plight is far from unique; one in eight American women will face a diagnosis of breast cancer in their lifetimes. I ride for my mom, her legacy, and every courageous woman who is about to face that fight.

Tell us about your fundraising experience for the Mamma Jamma Challenge? What are your tips for success?

I first learned about the Mamma Jamma ride while I was waiting in line for two Brushfire tacos at Torchy’s Tacos on Burnet, and there was a poster advertising the ride on the wall. When I first signed up, I was worried about hitting the $300 minimum. I had no idea my fundraising would be as successful as it has been. All I did was send one single email to a curated list of friends, family, and co-workers and the response was incredible. Of the $4,600+ I’ve currently raised, nearly half has come from my co-workers at Escalate Capital Partners—the company itself contributed $1,000 on my behalf. Escalate Capital Partners is an incredibly supportive company and they know how important this cause is to me. I am very fortunate to work there.

As far as tips go, I had success in being unobtrusive and succinct in communicating what I was doing and why for the recipients of that email.

What are some of the activities you will track in this year's Mamma Jamma Challenge? What are your favorite ways to move to beat breast cancer?

I’ll be out riding a lot, especially when the weather starts cooling down. Follow me on Strava and let’s ride together!

How have the beneficiaries supported through the Mamma Jamma Challenge helped you or someone you care about personally? 

The mission statement of the ride encapsulates why I’m so passionate about it: “What’s raised here, stays here.” It’s really special that that every dollar I raise has a direct and measurable impact on the community I love so much and the people within it.

Do you have a favorite Mamma Jamma Challenge beneficiary and why?

Wonders & Worries. While it is the individual who fight breast cancer, the impact on the supporting household and family tends to get less recognition. Everything about normal life is disrupted at home. I remember the challenges my mom faced in raising my little brother. At the time of diagnosis, my sister and I were in college and sort of self-sufficient. However, my little brother is ten years younger than me and was 11 at the time. This was challenging and overwhelming in a lot of ways. From the perspective of my mom, she was in a fight for her life but still had to see to the needs of a rambunctious pre-teen boy who, I think, only kind of understood what was going on at the time and how serious it all was. From his perspective, how does an 11-year-old process a loss like that? Today, my little brother is one of the strongest and most resilient people I know. I’m incredibly proud of who he is and how far he’s come, and I know he has put in a lot of hard work to get where he is today. That’s why Wonder & Worries is my favorite beneficiary of the Challenge: my little brother was fortunate enough to have a support system in me, my sister, and my dad, but not every child has that, and probably no family will ever find the right combination of words to help a child quickly and easily move past the loss of a parent without professional help. I find it really incredible that this organization exists, and I think that the service they provide is extremely important and impactful.

What would you say to someone undecided about registering for the Mamma Jamma Challenge?

It’s September in Texas. The weather is cooling down and Central Texas is gorgeous. Baseline, you should be on your bike anyway. Great! Now that we’ve established the baseline and that you are already on your bike, sign up for the Mamma Jamma Challenge! The people are rad, and the cause is righteous. I can’t think of a better way to try and lose the “quarantine fifteen!” Sign up and move for the one-in-eight.

Ezra Rodriguez, Communications Intern

Brendan Scher