Husker coach goes on offense against breast cancer

David Kelly, Ph.D., researcher, UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, far left, talks about cancer research with Nebraska Football Coach Bill Callahan, and his wife, Valerie.

Nebraska Cornhusker Football Coach Bill Callahan has gone on the offense in the fight against breast cancer. Having lost both of his parents to cancer — his mother to breast cancer – he’s making a play to find ways to prevent and cure cancer.

Callahan, his wife Valerie, members of the coaching staff and athletic department, and members of the Coach Callahan Charities, Inc., went behind the scenes Thursday at UNMC, to learn some of what’s being done in cancer research and treatment.

Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, led the group on a tour of a laboratory in the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, and a patient care suite at The Lied Transplant Center. He also hosted a luncheon.

Callahan will donate proceeds from his second Football 101 for Women program, scheduled for June 6, to the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center for breast cancer research. The program raises money for breast cancer research.

Football 101 for Women is tailored for women with beginner, intermediate and advanced football knowledge levels, and provides a fun and educational way to increase womens’ knowledge about the game, as well as the Nebraska football program. Callahan said it’s the largest women’s football clinic in the country.

Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., talks about cancer research with Nebraska Football Coach Bill Callahan during a tour of cancer research and treatment facilities at UNMC.

Last year’s event attracted more than 1,000 women from 12 states and raised $35,000 for breast cancer research.

“There’s no question this is the finest cancer facility in the Midwest region,” Callahan said. “There are more things important than Xs and Os. And when you’re talking about people and people’s lives and how we can go about helping individuals going through treatments and how we can detect potential problems in the areas of cancer and potentially save lives. It’s well worth it.”

Dr. Cowan said the Football 101 program is important to the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.

“We want to be able to provide as much information as possible (on breast cancer research and treatments),” Dr. Cowan said. “Football 101 will help us connect with more than 1,000 women around the state. Philanthropy like this is so important for us to provide seed money to collect preliminary data to allow us to compete on a national level for research grants.”

Callahan and his staff teach all sessions of the clinic. Events will take place at the Cornhusker Hotel in downtown Lincoln on Monday, June 6, beginning at 2 p.m. Registration is from noon to 2 p.m. The event is expected to conclude at 10:15 p.m.

Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., center, director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, with Nebraska Football Coach Bill Callahan and his wife, Valerie.

Pre-registration is required and open to the first 1,200 to sign-up. Registration fee for Football 101 is $75 and includes clinic participation, general admission dinner seating and a gift bag, which includes a Football 101 visor, a “Hope” wrist band from the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center and a College Football Rules packet. Husker gear also will be raffled.

To register, visit www.coachcallahan.com or call the Football 101 hotline at 402-472-0091. Those who are unable to attend the event may make a donation to the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center through Coach Callahan Charities, Inc., online or on the entry form, which can be downloaded.