Burger King campaign to benefit research at UNMC

Five children featured in this year’s campaign are, from left, Kyle, Eva, Kayla, Sydnee and Alyssa.

For the fifth consecutive year, area Burger King Restaurants will raise money for pediatric cancer research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center through the “BK Beat Cancer for Kids” campaign.

Throughout July, 76 Burger King locations in Omaha as well as Council Bluffs and Des Moines will ask customers to donate $1 to the campaign. In return, customers will receive a winning scratch card that includes a free Burger King food item worth at least $1. The card also will provide a chance to win a 2008 Mazda CX-7 valued at $25,000.

In the past four years, the campaign has raised $540,000. Organizers have high hopes again this year with great scratch card sales so far this month, said Megan Bratetic, director of marketing for Simmonds Restaurant Management.

“BK Beat Cancer for Kids is an opportunity for our Burger King staff and customers to help out this important cause $1 at a time,” Bratetic said. “We are so happy to be involved in this effort and would like to thank all of our generous customers for donating.”

The program was established in 2004 through the generosity of Simmonds Restaurant Management and is one of many outreach and fundraising programs benefiting Liz’s Legacy, a fund created to advance cancer research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.

BK’s kids Each year, children with cancer or those recovering from cancer are featured in the campaign. Below is some information about the five children featured in this year’s campaign. Eva, 18, of Omaha, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2007. She didn’t cry when she found out, but instead said, “Ok, what do I need to do?” This positive attitude has led her to value the time she’s spent with family and friends. Sydnee, 9, of Aurora loves to make people laugh. She also loves riding her bike and spending the summer swimming. Approaching two years with non-hodgkin’s lymphoma, she is looking forward to all of these activities this summer. Kayla, 6, of Missouri Valley, Iowa, is an outgoing little girl who hasn’t let acute lymphoblastic leukemia bring her down. After relapsing from a diagnosis at age 2 1/2, Kayla still enjoys playing with friends at school, riding her bike and reading. Alyssa, 6, of Grand Island, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2005. However, the diagnosis hasn’t stopped her from traveling to many far off places through the stories that she and her younger brother dream up and then act out. Kyle, 20, of Omaha, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2006, but he still shoots hoops as often as possible. He also enjoys playing his Gameboy and watching wrestling.

Liz’s Legacy is named after the late Liz Karnes, an Omaha civic leader who died in 2003 after a 12-year struggle with cancer.

The main sponsors of the campaign are Simmonds Restaurant Management and Burger King Restaurants. Other sponsors are Star 104.5 FM, KPTM Channel 42 and Woodhouse Auto Family.

Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, said the campaign has made a significant difference. With money raised in previous campaigns, the center created a pilot research program that focuses on identifying new treatments for childhood cancer. The hope is that the program will lead to federal funding from the National Institutes of Health on a long-term basis.

“We are very appreciative of this support from the community,” Dr. Cowan said. “Burger King and the other sponsors have just been outstanding in keeping this campaign going every year.”

Tom Thompson, the University of Nebraska Foundation Director of Development for the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, said UNMC is grateful for the commitment the Simmonds family made five years ago.

“The campaign is a huge undertaking for Simmonds Restaurant Management, Burger King and its employees,” he said. “It’s quite a commitment. The key to the campaign’s success has been those employees who ask customers if they want to donate. It takes extra work on their part.”

The winner of the grand prize drawing will be selected Aug. 7.

To make a donation online or to learn more about the promotion, visit www.beatcancerforkids.org or contact Thompson at 502-4116 or tthompson@nufoundation.org.