For its continuing support of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, The Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska received the Marge and Chuck Durham Spirit of Nebraska Award during the recent Ambassador of Hope Gala in Omaha.
In the 11 years the ball has been held, it has raised more than $3.2 million to support cancer research, with much of that money going to support work at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
"The ball — and namely those who help put on the yearly event — has been a point of pride and inspiration for the many members of our cancer center," said Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. "Every year hundreds of volunteers in rural communities around Nebraska work tirelessly to make the Cattlemen’s Ball a smashing success. We are incredibly grateful for their phenomenal effort and support."
The Cattlemen’s Ball is held on a different Nebraska ranch every year. Its mission is to raise money for cancer research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, while showcasing the beauty of rural Nebraska and promoting beef as part of a healthy diet.
This past year, the ball was held at the Niewohner Cattle Company near Albion, Neb. The event raised a record $796,000, with nearly 90 percent of the money going toward cancer research at the Eppley Cancer Center.
Next year’s Cattlemen’s Ball will be held June 6 at the Crane Trust in Doniphan, Neb., about 12 miles south of Grand Island.
The Spirit of Nebraska Award is named for Omaha philanthropists Chuck and Marge Durham, who were legendary supporters of UNMC and its mission. Lynn Boyer, daughter of Margre and Chuck Durham, helped to present the Spirit of Nebraska Award at this year’s Ambassador of Hope Gala.
Many of the families who have generously hosted the ball on their ranches as well as past and present members of the Cattlemen’s Ball were on hand to be honored at the gala in Omaha or at a satellite event held simultaneously in Scottsbluff.
The award was previously given posthumously to Omaha businessman, Harlan Noddle. Noddle also was a strong supporter of the medical center who died of pancreatic cancer in 2005.
The UNMC Eppley Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated cancer center in the state of Nebraska, the only NCI-designated cancer center from the Canadian border to Texas, and one of just 63 such cancer centers in the United States. One of the founding 19 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center brings patient care, biomedical research, and educational programs together to benefit cancer patients, their families and the public.
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through their 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 centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology and ophthalmology. UNMC’s research funding from external sources now exceeds $82 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,400 highly skilled jobs in the state. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 513 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.