The University of Nebraska Medical Centers Eppley Cancer Center has
received $207,000 in proceeds from the 2002 Cattlemens Ball of Nebraska,
an event which was held June 1 at the Benes Cattle Company near Valparaiso,
Neb. The check presented on Oct. 5 at the Starlight Ballroom near Wahoo
exceeded the fund-raising goal by $7,000.
The UNMC Eppley Cancer Center has been very fortunate to be the recipient
of more than $700,000 over the years from the Cattlemens Ball, said Kenneth
Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. Contributions
from the Cattlemens Ball of Nebraska make our mission more than a dream
they allow us to continue moving forward at the cutting-edge of cancer
research, helping us to develop new strategies for cancer detection, prevention
and treatment.
The Cattlemens Ball is held to promote beef in a healthy diet and to
showcase rural Nebraska. All of the money raised stays in Nebraska, with
proceeds going to the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center and 10 percent directed
toward health-care needs in the community hosting the event.
Grants awarded to the local area this year include: Valparaiso Volunteer
Fire Department, $5,300; Garland Volunteer Fire Department, $3,000;
Malmo Volunteer Fire Department, $1,000; Morse Bluff Volunteer Fire
Department, $4,000; Raymond Volunteer Fire Department, $4,000;
Seward Volunteer Fire Department, $1,000; Saunders County Heath Services,
$3,000; Memorial Health Care Services (Seward), $3,000; and Butler County
Heath Services, $2,193.
The 2002 Cattlemens Ball at the Benes Cattle Company was hosted by
Ermin and Delores Benes and family. Event activities included an art show,
style show, horse-drawn wagon rides, as well as live and silent auctions.
The Honky Tonk Tailgate Party Tour, a package concert tour presenting three
country music artists, performed at the balls evening concert.
Staff members from the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, with the help of nurses
from Nebraska Health System and the UNMC College of Nursing, also provided
free screening for prostate and skin cancer throughout the day. More than
80 men had blood tests to measure their Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
to help detect potential prostate cancer, and more than 400 people participated
in the face scanning activity to help detect potential skin cancers.
The Cattlemen’s Ball Advisory Board announced that the Cattlemen’s Ball
will be now held once every two years. The next Cattlemens Ball will be
in 2004 near Brady, Neb., about 20 miles east of North Platte, at Jay Novacek’s
Upper 84 Ranch. Novacek, a Gothenburg native, played college football at
Wyoming University and pro football with the Dallas Cowboys.