A fund to advance cancer research and care at the University of Nebraska
Medical Center Eppley Cancer Center has been established in honor of Liz
Karnes, an Omaha community leader who died earlier this year after a 12-year
battle with cancer.
The fund called Lizs Legacy was announced this morning at an outdoor
news conference in the Healing Gardens at the medical center. The announcement
was made by Lizs husband, Dave Karnes, Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director
of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, and Stephen B. Smith, M.D., chief medical
officer for The Nebraska Medical Center. They were joined by two of the
Karnes four daughters Laurel and Kara.
We are honored to have this fund in Lizs name, Dave Karnes said.
She received much of her cancer care at The Nebraska Medical Center, and
she truly felt Omaha was fortunate to have such an outstanding medical
center. Liz inspired people with her life. And through this initiative,
her example will continue to give hope to those suffering from cancer.
The fund, which will be managed by the University of Nebraska Foundation,
will help support promising research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center,
while also creating an enhanced awareness among Nebraskans about the importance
of understanding cancer.
Helping others was truly Lizs legacy, Dr. Cowan said. Throughout
her struggle with cancer, she never stopped helping others. She would visit
recently diagnosed cancer patients and show them through her example
that they could live with cancer. Along with the Karnes family,
we want to continue to share her message through new community events,
partnerships and outreach activities.
This fund to support cancer research will help to provide state-of-the-art
care for cancer patients at The Nebraska Medical Center, Dr. Smith said.
It supports the work of physicians and scientists who are diligently working
toward new, more effective cancer treatments and someday a cure. Through
this collaboration, we are able to provide our patients with the most advanced
means of detecting, preventing and treating cancer.
The news conference featured the release of several dozen butterflies,
as the butterfly had a symbolic meaning to the Karnes family. When the
family realized they were sharing their last Christmas with Liz, they wanted
to give her something uplifting. They wanted to reinforce that this was
a time of hope and not of sadness. They chose a butterfly pin.
Today, the four Karnes daughters share the butterfly pin. They wear
it on special occasions or just when they need to feel Lizs presence.
It reminds them of how their mother lived her life, and the hope she embodied,
Dave Karnes said.
Donations to Lizs Legacy Fund can be made payable to and sent to the
University of Nebraska Foundation, 8712 W. Dodge Rd., Suite 100, Omaha,
Neb. 68114. For more information on Lizs Legacy Fund, go to www.lizslegacy.org.
Liz touched so many people. We know there are many people, businesses
and organizations who will want to return their love and support of Liz
to this fund, Dr. Cowan said. Cancer is the second leading cause of death
in Nebraska. This fund can truly make a difference in helping us make new
breakthroughs.
Dave Karnes made an initial gift to establish the fund, said Tom Thompson,
director of development, UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. Even though the fund
is just beginning, Thompson said several businesses have already indicated
they want to be a part of the fund-raising efforts on behalf of Lizs Legacy.
Two of the local Hy-Vee grocery stores have expressed a desire to participate
in Lizs Legacy. Thompson is working with the University of Nebraska
at Omaha hockey team and several local businesses on possible fund-raising
initiatives. He said the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center hopes to kickoff this
effort at the Maverick Stampede on Oct. 10 and 11, when three hockey powers
the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin, and the University
of Maine will visit the new Qwest Center Omaha to compete against UNO
in an early season tournament.
This initiative only goes forward with involvement and support of the
Karnes family, Thompson said. Dave and especially their daughters will
keep Lizs Legacy a vibrant program for cancer research and awareness.
We cant thank the family enough for sharing in this vision.
The UNMC Eppley Cancer Center is recognized as a National Cancer Institute
(NCI) designated cancer center, one of 61 in the country. Earlier this
year, The Nebraska Medical Center was rated one of the top hospitals in
the country for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report.