Call it an opportunity to give cancer the boot.
The second annual Kicks for a Cure event will take place this weekend with a dinner tonight and soccer games on Saturday.
Proceeds from the event, which raised $107,000 last year, will go to Liz’s Legacy, a fund started in memory of the late Liz Karnes, Ph.D., who died of ovarian cancer on April 24, 2003. The money raised will be directed toward women’s cancer research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center and the Hereditary Cancer Center at Creighton University.
“Last year’s event was an overwhelming success. I think it is incredible the way that individuals see a need, turn it into their passion and make something like this happen,” said Tom Thompson, director of development for the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center through the University of Nebraska Foundation. “We’re very fortunate to be able to demonstrate and then communicate the amazing research work that is being conducted at UNMC and how it is helping saves lives. With Kicks for a Cure, we get to do that through a very a family-oriented event with the emphasis on having fun.”
The dinner tonight at the Doubletree Hotel at 16th and Dodge streets is expected to bring together nearly 500 people, Thompson said, including sponsors, soccer teams and families. Many of the children attending will be wearing their soccer uniforms.
There will be a number of activities for children, Thompson said. Another highlight will be a wind tunnel that children can enter to retrieve a variety of coupons and certificates that will be blowing around.
Liz Karnes’ husband, former U.S. Sen. Dave Karnes, will speak at the dinner. The Karnes’ four daughters, Korey, Kalen, Kara and Laurel, will once again serve as honorary chairs for the event.
On Saturday, activities will take place at Creighton University’s Morrison Stadium with two high school games and two college tilts. Omaha Westside and Millard North will play the opener at 11 a.m., followed by the University of Nebraska at Omaha vs.Rockhurst College at 1:30 p.m., Elkhorn and Gretna at 3:30 p.m., and Creighton University and Marquette University at 6 p.m.
An autograph session with the collegiate participants will take place immediately following each of their games.
Each ticket is good for all four soccer games. Cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children. Coupons for $2 off are available at any First National Bank location or by going online at www.kicksforacure.org.
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Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D. |
“Liz Karnes would be delighted and proud to see what has been accomplished in her name and memory,” he said. “The fund — and those who support it — are truly making a difference. We can’t thank them enough.”
Dr. Cowan said funds raised from Kicks for a Cure will be earmarked for new research initiatives in breast and/or gynecological cancers. He noted that even though impressive strides in research and treatment have been made over the years, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that nearly 250,000 new cases of breast, endometrial, ovarian and cervical cancer will be diagnosed in 2007, and more than 66,000 women will die from these diseases this year.
Over the past four years, Liz’s Legacy has raised more than $500,000 for cancer research through a variety of different events.
“The Liz’s Legacy Fund is helping to get the message out,” Thompson said. “I recently worked with a UNO student who is getting married soon. Her younger brother was recently treated for cancer here at the medical center. As an alternative to giving favors to those who will attend her wedding, she instead will be making a donation to the Beat Cancer for Kids Campaign (an extension of the Liz’s Legacy fund effort) with that money, hoping they would understand and support this gesture. I think that’s touching and it shows the impact of Liz’s Legacy.”
For more information on Liz’s Legacy visit www.lizslegacy.com.