Mike and Lin Simmonds to receive Spirit of Nebraska Award

Mike and Lin Simmonds have been named the recipients of the 2010 Margre and Chuck Durham Spirit of Nebraska Award.

Mike Simmonds of Simmonds Restaurant Management and his wife, Lin, have been selected to receive the Margre and Chuck Durham Spirit of Nebraska Award.

In 2004, the Simmonds launched a program through the company and its affiliated Burger King restaurants called Help Beat Cancer for Kids. The program has raised more than $1 million for cancer research at UNMC.

Tickets remain for gala Tickets for the Ambassador of Hope Gala are $150 per person. Table sponsorships range from $1,500 to $10,000. For more information, call 402-559-4179 or go to www.nebraskahope.org. Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State (2005-2009), will be the featured honoree at this year’s gala. Hosted by the Friends of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, the gala is held every two years. In 2008, the event raised more than $1.1 million to support cancer research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.

The Simmonds will be recognized at the Ambassador of Hope Gala on Oct. 26 at Qwest Center Omaha. The Spirit of Nebraska Award is named for Omaha philanthropists Chuck and Marge Durham, who were legendary supporters of UNMC and its mission.

After more than 30 years in the restaurant business, Mike Simmonds sold his restaurant interests recently and is now developing two new start-up businesses in the health care field.

“Cancer has long been on the top of my mind,” he said. “From a personal standpoint, I’ve had my own battle with cancer for the past eight years, and I’ve lost several of my best friends to cancer.

“It’s terrible for adults, but it’s even worse when you see a child with cancer. That’s why we’ve focused our attention on the fight against cancer for children. It’s a fight that will never end as far I’m concerned.”