Decorative, three-foot boots will help raise money for cancer research at UNMC Eppley Cancer Center
The 2010 Cattlemen’s Ball wants to give cancer the boot – literally.
More than 50 three-foot fiberglass cowboy boots have been created with the idea to raise money for cancer research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.
Each of the boots will be hand painted and then displayed at this year’s Cattlemen’s Ball on June 4-5 near Kearney. Ball attendees will then vote on the best looking boots, and the top three will be auctioned off at the ball.
On Tuesday, one of the decorative boots was delivered to the office of Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. The delivery was made by McKinley Wilson, who will be an eighth grader next year in Wahoo, Neb., and her grandmother, Kae Pavlik, a longtime board member for the Cattlemen’s Ball.
The leg portion of the boot features a colorful turquoise and black design, while the foot portion of the boot depicts a series of small town store fronts on one side and a farm scene on the other side. It was painted for no charge by Dixie Campbell of Omaha.
In addition, Wilson, whose family has been touched by cancer, showed Dr. Cowan a custom cowboy hat that she purchased from a Montana company. The underside of the brim of the hat features the brands of 24 Nebraska ranches which have participated in the Cattlemen’s Ball over the years.
The unique cowboy hat was made possible thanks to $1,500 in donations made by the Nebraska ranches – along with Wilson’s own personal contribution. It also will be auctioned off at the ball to raise money for cancer research.
Pavlik said the Cattlemen’s Ball has become an important outlet for people throughout Nebraska.
“People (with cancer) feel there is hope – thanks to UNMC,” she said. “We are always able to help people by directing them to Dr. Cowan or someone else at UNMC.”
Dr. Cowan expressed his deep appreciation for the Cattlemen’s Ball, which has raised more than $3.7 million over the past 11 years. “It’s always a great event,” he said. “We can’t thank them enough for their tremendous support.”
This year’s Cattlemen’s Ball shapes up to be a memorable event with a sellout crowd of 4,000 people expected.
As the state’s only academic health science center, UNMC is on the leading edge of health care. Breakthroughs are possible because hard-working researchers, educators and clinicians are resolved to work together to fuel discovery. In 2009, UNMC’s extramural research support topped $100 million for the first time, resulting in the creation of 3,600 jobs in Nebraska. UNMC’s academic excellence is shown through its award-winning programs, and its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through its commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading health care centers. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 550 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.
The UNMC Eppley Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center — a distinction held by only 65 centers in the country and the only NCI-designated center in Nebraska. The UNMC Eppley Cancer Center is also one of the founding members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the world’s leading cancer centers. This recognition means the most current and innovative treatment options are available to cancer center patients through the integration of cutting-edge research into state-of-the-art care. Cancer center physicians and scientists work together to quickly translate discoveries made in the laboratory into innovative treatments for the patient.