Sherry McConkey: The Woman Who Turned Her Biggest Loss Into a Mission to Save the Planet

What would you do if you lost the person you love the most? Some people stop living. Some people hide from the world. But Sherry McConkey did something different. She took her pain and turned it into something powerful. She built a foundation. She helped young people. She made a real difference for the planet. This is her story, and it will change the way you think about loss, strength, and purpose.

Who Is Sherry McConkey?

Sherry McConkey is a mother, a yoga teacher, a film producer, and the founder of the Shane McConkey Foundation. She was born in Ireland and grew up in South Africa. When she was 21 years old, she left home to travel the world. After more than three years of visiting beautiful places across Europe and Canada, she found Lake Tahoe in California. She fell in love with the place and never left.

In Lake Tahoe, Sherry met a man named Shane McConkey. Shane was one of the most famous skiers in the world. He was known for doing things on skis that nobody else would try. He was funny, brave, and full of energy. The two got married in Thailand in 2004, and their daughter Ayla was born in 2005.

Life was good. But everything changed on March 26, 2009.

The Day That Changed Everything

Shane McConkey died in a skiing accident in the Dolomites mountains of Italy. He was only 39 years old. In one moment, Sherry lost her husband, her best friend, and the father of her daughter.

The pain was very big. But Sherry did not let it break her. In her own words from a TEDx talk she gave at the University of Nevada, she shared that even through terrible tragedy, she found a new version of herself. She learned that being happy is not about what happens to you. It is a brave choice you can make every single day.

This idea became the heart of everything Sherry did next.

Building the Shane McConkey Foundation

Shane McConkey was not just a great skier. He also cared about the environment. He knew our planet was in trouble. He believed people needed to act fast to protect it.

After Shane died, Sherry wanted to honor his memory in a meaningful way. Shane was a big name in the ski world, and Sherry felt a responsibility to do something important. So in 2011, she started the Shane McConkey Foundation.

The foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports causes Shane cared about. It protects kids, wildlife, and the planet. Over the years, the foundation has given more than one million dollars to over 50 different charities and organizations, including Make a Wish Foundation, Protect Our Winters, and many others.

But the project that Sherry is most proud of is something called the EcoChallenge.

The Shane McConkey EcoChallenge: Helping Kids Save the Earth

The Shane McConkey EcoChallenge is a national competition for students. It asks young people to find an environmental problem in their community and create a project to fix it.

The idea came to Sherry while she was riding her bike one day. She was always impressed by how quickly kids can change their habits compared to adults. She wanted to give young people a chance to show what they can do for the planet.

The EcoChallenge started small. In its first year, only six students entered. But it grew fast. Today, more than 1,300 students have taken part in the competition. The foundation gives out $27,250 in prize money each year, and the winning students can send that money to their school or a nonprofit of their choice.

The projects students create are amazing. Some kids organize beach cleanups. Others start composting programs at their schools. Some students have even worked to ban styrofoam in their school cafeterias. A few EcoChallenge winners have gone on to become ambassadors for environmental clubs. Some have even visited the White House to help change government policies about the environment.

Sherry says watching these young people grow is the best part of her work. Many students who start out shy and nervous end up becoming strong leaders. One young girl who was too scared to do an interview later went on to study environmental science in college.

The Pain McShlonkey Classic: Fun With a Purpose

Sherry also keeps Shane’s playful spirit alive through the Pain McShlonkey Classic. This is a funny and wild ski competition held every year at Palisades Tahoe in California. Sixty people, both amateur skiers and professional athletes, dress up in silly costumes and race down one of the steepest mountains in America on snowblades.

The event is pure fun, just like Shane would have wanted. But it also raises serious money. The Pain McShlonkey Classic has helped raise funds that go to the EcoChallenge and other good causes. Past winners include Olympic skiers and famous freestyle athletes, and the event brings the whole community together.

In March 2025, the event raised $10,000 for Sierra Community House alone, and the total donations from this event over the years have been part of the foundation’s million dollar giving record.

Sherry McConkey the Yoga Teacher

Sherry’s strength does not only come from her work with the foundation. She also found healing through yoga.

After years of hard skiing and physical activity in the mountains, Sherry’s body needed help. She started doing yoga and it changed her life. It helped her body heal, but it also helped her mind get through the hardest times after losing Shane.

Sherry has more than 800 hours of yoga training. She teaches a special class called “Yoga for Athletes” that focuses on breathing, body alignment, flexibility, and strength. Her goal is to help people take care of their bodies so they can keep enjoying the activities they love.

She has taught yoga at the famous Wanderlust festival and has even led yoga and surf retreats in places like Nicaragua. For Sherry, yoga is not just exercise. It is a way to give back to yourself so you can keep playing and enjoying the beautiful world around you.

The McConkey Documentary

In 2013, Sherry helped produce a documentary film simply called “McConkey.” The film tells the story of Shane’s life, his amazing skiing career, and his lasting impact on the sport and the people around him. The film is available on Amazon Prime and has touched thousands of viewers around the world.

For Sherry, making this film was another way to make sure Shane’s spirit and message live on. It was not easy to look back at all those memories. But she did it because she believed the world needed to hear Shane’s story.

What We Can Learn From Sherry McConkey

Sherry McConkey’s life teaches us some very important lessons.

First, pain does not have to be the end of your story. It can be the beginning of something new and beautiful. Sherry lost her husband in one of the most painful ways possible. But she did not give up. She found a new purpose and built something that helps thousands of people.

Second, young people can change the world. The EcoChallenge proves that kids are not too young to make a real difference. With the right support and encouragement, students can solve real problems in their communities.

Third, taking care of yourself matters. Sherry’s yoga practice shows that healing your body and mind is not selfish. It is necessary. You cannot help others if you do not first help yourself.

Fourth, fun and serious work can go together. The Pain McShlonkey Classic is proof that you can raise money, build community, and have a great time all at once.

How You Can Get Involved

If Sherry McConkey’s story inspires you, there are things you can do right now.

If you are a student or you know a student, check out the Shane McConkey EcoChallenge at shanemcconkey.org. Projects are due every year on Earth Day, April 22. It is a great chance to make a difference and win prize money for your school.

If you want to support the foundation, you can donate or attend the Pain McShlonkey Classic at Palisades Tahoe. Every dollar goes to helping kids and protecting the planet.

And if you just want to be inspired, watch the “McConkey” documentary on Amazon Prime. It will make you laugh, cry, and want to live your life to the fullest.

Final Thoughts

Sherry McConkey is proof that one person can make a huge difference. From a small town in South Africa to the mountains of Lake Tahoe, she has built a life full of meaning, love, and purpose. She took the worst thing that ever happened to her and turned it into a force for good.