Sylvia Dunnavant-Hines wants you to be well! Sylvia has put on the Sister to Sister Fitness Festival for 24 years for Breast Cancer Awareness. It has grown to become one of North Texas’ most popular events in town, drawing people from all over North Texas and beyond. If you have never attended, then you are truly missing a treat! The day starts with an 8:00am 5K Walk/Run, then you have celebrity fitness appearances, food trucks, music, shopping with lots of vendors, health care screenings, and so much more! I personally look forward to this event every year and this year’s theme “Riding the Blue Waves” also highlights the importance of getting men involved in the fight against breast cancer! It is recommended to arrive at the Alan E. Sims Cedar Hill Recreation Center early if you want a good parking space. We had a chance to catch up with the ever-busy Sylvia to tell us more about the event.
SDM- Sylvia, you have organized this massive event for 24 years! Tell us about your motivation for continuing this?
Sylvia- There is a passion deep in my soul—something as natural and constant as breathing. When you wake up in the morning, and the Lord allows you another day, you don’t think about each breath—it just happens. That’s what the Sister to Sister Fitness Festival feels like to me. It’s not just an event; it’s the work we are called to do.
We’re already preparing for 2026, and I am so grateful for a board that is fully committed to what this festival allows us to bring to the community. The rewards are beyond measure. Last year, the oldest participant to cross the finish line was 87 years old—and the entire crowd erupted in cheers as she made her way across. Moments like that remind us why we do this.
SDM- Take us back to the genesis of the Sister to Sister Fitness Festival. How did it originate and why?
Sylvia- It all began a few years after we launched the Celebrating Life Foundation. At the time, Giselle Fisher Ray was my event coordinator—she was in the trenches with me as we traveled to health fairs across the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex.
One day, as we reflected on our work, we realized something important: most health fairs were sharing the same message about nutrition and healthy lifestyles. While that was valuable, we also saw a deeper truth. Breast cancer wasn’t the only disease impacting the African American community. Too many of us were also dying disproportionately from heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
That conversation sparked an idea. We needed to create something broader—an event that would not only raise awareness about multiple health issues, but also help us raise funds to support our programs. Since I had been involved in walks since high school, it felt natural to start there.
In the beginning, we gathered at a small local park and simply walked together. Later, we moved to Kiest Park. Bert Williams on KKDA Radio with USA Track & Field (USATF) designed our first official route in Kiest park. He has also designed the route in Cedar Hill. Those early days were wild—every registration, every detail had to be entered manually. It was exhausting, but it was also the start of something powerful.
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DM- Are you a native of Dallas? Tell us a little about yourself.
Sylvia- I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. During my last year of high school, I moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I stayed with my Aunt Aunie Lou Lewis. She later passed from breast cancer and was my motivation for starting the Celebrating Life Foundation. From there I went on to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
In 1982, I made a big move to Dallas. One of my first jobs was with an aerial photography company, and looking back, I still can’t believe some of the things I did. I would climb into a single-engine Cessna airplane, lean out of the window, and take pictures of large companies and sprawling farms across the South. It was both thrilling and terrifying, yet, that job got me to Texas, and this is definitely home for me.
SDM- How did the event transition to the Alan Sims Cedar Recreation Center?
Sylvia- The event first began in Kiest Park. However, in 2007, my adopted mother started facing serious health challenges, and I found myself traveling back and forth to Chicago to care for her. During that time, we put the event on hold for two years.
After her passing in 2009, we knew it was time to bring it back. A Dallas Cowboys player had expressed interest in working with us, but he wanted the event to be held in Cedar Hill. We made the move and set everything up, though in the end, he wasn’t able to participate. Still, we decided to press forward—and we’ve been in Cedar Hill ever since.
SDM- Over the years, I’m sure you may have run into some obstacles with the event. What were they and how did you overcome them?
Sylvia- The first major challenge came when my mother became ill. I was raised as an only child, and when she was still in Chicago, I knew I had to move her to Dallas to be closer. During that season, we had to pause the Sister to Sister Fitness Festival for two years.
The next big challenge, of course, was COVID. In 2020, we shifted to hosting the event virtually. To my surprise, it turned out to be fun—people from all over posted pictures of themselves walking wherever they were. We even gathered at a small park in spirit, though many walked in their own neighborhoods.
That experience opened a new door for us. Now, we continue to offer the option for people to participate virtually. What began as a challenge ended up becoming a blessing, expanding the reach and impact of our festival in ways we never imagined.
SDM- You have so many people who partner with you in some way for the event. Tell us about the partners who help you make this happen every year.
Sylvia- Partnership and collaboration are the keys to success for any nonprofit, and the Sister to Sister Fitness Festival is no exception. From the very beginning, the City of Cedar Hill and the Alan E. Sims Cedar Hill Recreation Center have stood beside us to make this event possible. They are truly all in.
Our media partners have been essential—KRNB Radio, K104, WFAA, and Texas Metro News help us spread the word and reach the community in powerful ways. We are equally grateful to our sponsors, including Frost Bank, Veritex Community Bank, Methodist Charlton Medical Center, Parkland Health, Brilliant Fulfillment, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, AARP-Texas, Herbal Goodness, Celsius Energy Drinks, City Men Cook, A List Branding, Central Pointe Church of Christ and the Dallas Chamber of Commerce. Their support allows us to continue growing and serving.
And of course, this event could not happen without our countless volunteers and special guests. Leaders and friends like Lynne Haze, Cassandra Cass Campbell, Chris Arnold, Clifford Arnold, Harrison Blair, and Scoop Jefferson help us create an inspiring program each year. Together, we form a community of strength, celebration, and hope.
SDM- Sylvia, Southern Dallas Magazine applauds you for all you do! Our community is healthier and more informed about Breast Cancer Awareness because of the Sister to Sister Fitness Festival! Is there anything else you would like to leave with our readers?
Sylvia- We hope that the Sister to Sister Fitness Festival not only inspires interest in overall health, but also sparks an ongoing dialogue about breast cancer. While the festival itself is a once-a-year event, the conversation about prevention, early detection, and survivorship must continue all year long.
Over the years, we have seen the impact firsthand. Some participants have joined us for the walk, taken advantage of on-site mammography screenings, and learned—right there—that they had breast cancer. Moments like these remind us that this work truly makes a difference.
Because of the festival and our broader efforts, we have been able to provide critical support such as rental assistance, meals, and transportation for breast cancer survivors undergoing treatment. None of this would be possible without the commitment and generosity of our community, and for that, we are deeply grateful.
People can register for the event or donate to our efforts at www.celebratinglife.org .
