Women learn Xs and Os in fight against breast cancer

Marsha Ketcham of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center participates in the Football 101 event.

LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska football team fights to win games.

Breast cancer survivors fight to win years.

On June 2, they united with one goal: to win the fight against breast cancer.

The third annual Football 101 for Women charity, sponsored by Coach Callahan Charities Inc., is tailored for women with beginner, intermediate and advanced football knowledge levels, and provides a fun and educational way to increase knowledge about the game, while raising money and awareness for breast cancer research.

“We are all fighting against the same enemy and survivors should know that they are not alone, we are thinking of them every day,” said Melissa Abele, executive director of Coach Callahan Charities, Inc.

The one-day event, which raised more than $55,000, provided 1,000 women age 11 to 96 an opportunity to interact with Nebraska football coaches and players, learn the pigskin playbook and raise breast cancer awareness.

Football Coach Bill Callahan presents a fund-raising check for $55,000 to Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.

Last week’s Football 101 emulated a football game. During the “first half,” Husker Head Coach Bill Callahan showed tapes of the Cornhusker’s West Coast Offense while explaining the team’s philosophy. Following the presentation the women, who represented 14 states, cheered as senior fullback Dane Todd, senior defensive end Jay Moore, senior linebacker Stewart Bradley, senior quarterback Zac Taylor, junior strong safety Ben Eisenhart and junior cornerback Cortney Grixby ascended the stage for a player forum.

“This is probably more fun for us, but the most important thing is that it benefits breast cancer,” Eisenhart said.

Callahan’s own mother died of breast cancer. “It’s a fight we haven’t given up on,” he said. “It touched my life and I am glad to be a part of the fight against it.”

Cancer also has impacted the life of running backs coach Randy Jordan, whose aunt battled breast cancer.

“You either know someone or you know someone who knows someone who has fought this dreaded cancer,” Jordan said. “I want to be a part of the crusade to find a cure and let this cancer know it has a fight on its hands.”

Football 101 participants included, from left, Molly Malone, Marsha Ketcham and Jessica Tvrz, all of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center; and Dorene Sherman, Friends of the Eppley Cancer Center Board Secretary.

The money raised during the inaugural Football 101 event supported the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The past two years have benefited UNMC’s Eppley Cancer Center.

“Women learn about football but it also increases awareness by focusing on breast cancer screening and the need for early detection, as well as making people aware of the breast cancer research being conducted, said Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.

During the past two years, more than 2,000 women have raised more than $100,000 for the Eppley Cancer Center, Callahan said. In its three-year history, Football 101 has raised more than $140,000 for breast cancer research.

During the “second half,” women split into three groups based on their football knowledge. The women participated in drills and running plays while learning about offense, defense and special teams.

“It not only helps women understand football by talking with the coaching staff, but it also helps to communicate information about this cancer,” Offensive Line Coach Dennis Wagner said.

When the event’s “game” clock ended, more than 80 breast cancer survivors were applauded for their fight to beat cancer.

It was a humbling experience for Abele. “Their fight to win every day is staggering and one that needs the support of all of us,” she said.