UNMC Eppley Cancer Center establishes fund to advance cancer research in honor of Liz Karnes

A fund to advance cancer research and care at the University of Nebraska

Medical Center Eppley Cancer Center has been established in honor of Liz

Karnes, an Omaha community leader who died earlier this year after a 12-year

battle with cancer.

The fund called Lizs Legacy was announced this morning at an outdoor

news conference in the Healing Gardens at the medical center. The announcement

was made by Lizs husband, Dave Karnes, Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director

of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, and Stephen B. Smith, M.D., chief medical

officer for The Nebraska Medical Center. They were joined by two of the

Karnes four daughters Laurel and Kara.

We are honored to have this fund in Lizs name, Dave Karnes said.

She received much of her cancer care at The Nebraska Medical Center, and

she truly felt Omaha was fortunate to have such an outstanding medical

center. Liz inspired people with her life. And through this initiative,

her example will continue to give hope to those suffering from cancer.

The fund, which will be managed by the University of Nebraska Foundation,

will help support promising research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center,

while also creating an enhanced awareness among Nebraskans about the importance

of understanding cancer.

Helping others was truly Lizs legacy, Dr. Cowan said. Throughout

her struggle with cancer, she never stopped helping others. She would visit

recently diagnosed cancer patients and show them through her example

that they could live with cancer.  Along with the Karnes family,

we want to continue to share her message through new community events,

partnerships and outreach activities.

This fund to support cancer research will help to provide state-of-the-art

care for cancer patients at The Nebraska Medical Center, Dr. Smith said.

It supports the work of physicians and scientists who are diligently working

toward new, more effective cancer treatments and someday a cure. Through

this collaboration, we are able to provide our patients with the most advanced

means of detecting, preventing and treating cancer.

The news conference featured the release of several dozen butterflies,

as the butterfly had a symbolic meaning to the Karnes family. When the

family realized they were sharing their last Christmas with Liz, they wanted

to give her something uplifting. They wanted to reinforce that this was

a time of hope and not of sadness. They chose a butterfly pin.

Today, the four Karnes daughters share the butterfly pin. They wear

it on special occasions or just when they need to feel Lizs presence.

It reminds them of how their mother lived her life, and the hope she embodied,

Dave Karnes said.

Donations to Lizs Legacy Fund can be made payable to and sent to the

University of Nebraska Foundation, 8712 W. Dodge Rd., Suite 100, Omaha,

Neb. 68114. For more information on Lizs Legacy Fund, go to www.lizslegacy.org.

Liz touched so many people. We know there are many people, businesses

and organizations who will want to return their love and support of Liz

to this fund, Dr. Cowan said. Cancer is the second leading cause of death

in Nebraska. This fund can truly make a difference in helping us make new

breakthroughs.

Dave Karnes made an initial gift to establish the fund, said Tom Thompson,

director of development, UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. Even though the fund

is just beginning, Thompson said several businesses have already indicated

they want to be a part of the fund-raising efforts on behalf of Lizs Legacy.

Two of the local Hy-Vee grocery stores have expressed a desire to participate

in Lizs Legacy.  Thompson is working with the University of Nebraska

at Omaha hockey team and several local businesses on possible fund-raising

initiatives. He said the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center hopes to kickoff this

effort at the Maverick Stampede on Oct. 10 and 11, when three hockey powers

the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin, and the University

of Maine will visit the new Qwest Center Omaha to compete against UNO

in an early season tournament.

This initiative only goes forward with involvement and support of the

Karnes family, Thompson said. Dave and especially their daughters will

keep Lizs Legacy a vibrant program for cancer research and awareness.

We cant thank the family enough for sharing in this vision.

The UNMC Eppley Cancer Center is recognized as a National Cancer Institute

(NCI) designated cancer center, one of 61 in the country. Earlier this

year, The Nebraska Medical Center was rated one of the top hospitals in

the country for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report.