Nebraska Florists To Raise Money for Cancer Research
Activities through “Bouquet of Hope” Program during October
Flowers are a great way to express one’s feelings. Now, people who send
flowers during the month of October also can send a message of support
for cancer research through the “Bouquet of Hope” program involving 11
florists in five Nebraska communities.
The program supports cancer research at the University of Nebraska Medical
Center’s Eppley Cancer Center. It is being sponsored by the Friends of
the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, a 15-member community based group committed
to raising funds for cancer research.
People can send a “Bouquet of Hope” to someone touched by cancer by
going through one of the participating florists located in Fremont, Lincoln,
Norfolk, Omaha and Valley.
The bouquets, which typically cost less than $20, will include a special
enclosure card designed by Sue Kocsis, an Omaha artist who continues to
battle breast cancer. The card depicts a colorful bouquet of flowers with
the following message,”Long after the blooms have faded, money spent for
this bouquet allows the hope to continue through cancer research.”
For every bouquet sold, 20 percent of the proceeds will go toward funding
local cancer research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, said Jill
Bydalek, a member of the Friends of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.
“This is a unique program in Nebraska which could eventually grow into
a national effort,” Bydalek said. “Battling cancer is no small task. By
sending a bouquet to people touched by cancer, it’s a wonderful way to
brighten someone’s day while benefitting cancer research at the same time.”
Participating florists include:
FREMONT — Green’s Greenhouse;
LINCOLN — Burton’s Flowers, and Tyrrell’s;
NORFOLK — Tillson’s;
OMAHA — David’s Rockbrook Florist, Gullotta Florist, Janousek Florist
& Greenhouse, Ken’s Flower Shop, Piccolo’s Florist & Gifts, and
Taylor’s Flower Shop;
VALLEY — Valley Floral Company.
For more information on the “Bouquet of Hope” program, call (402) 559-4090.
The UNMC Eppley Cancer Center is a NCI designated cancer center a
distinction held by only 55 centers in the country. Of the $34.3 million
in competitive, external research grants and contracts awarded to UNMC
in 1997-98, cancer-related research accounted for about one-half of that
amount.
The UNMC Eppley Cancer Center was created in 1993 by the University
of Nebraska Board of Regents in a move that united cancer researchers throughout
the UNMC campus into a larger single entity. It marked a major first step
toward Eppley’s quest to eventually become a comprehensive cancer center,
the most prestigious designation awarded by the NCI.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education and patient care, UNMC has
established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for cancer research
and treatment and solid organ transplantation. UNMC’s educational programs
are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska
than any other institution.
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