Burger King Restaurants® in the Omaha and Council Bluffs metro area have teamed with the University of Nebraska Foundation to support childhood cancer research at UNMC.
The “BK Beat Cancer for Kids” promotion is running during the month of July at 39 Burger King restaurants in Omaha and Council Bluffs. The program is an extension of Liz’s Legacy, a fund to advance cancer research and care at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. Liz’s Legacy is named after the late Liz Karnes, an Omaha civic leader who died in 2003 after a 12-year battle with cancer.
“The ‘BK Beat Cancer for Kids’ promotion is a great outlet to get our customers and the community involved in helping this important cause,” said Natalie Simmonds, marketing manager for Simmonds Restaurant Management, which operates the 39 participating Burger King restaurants. “We are very excited about this fund-raiser. Everybody wins, and it is truly a way to help beat this $1 at a time.”
As part of the promotion, Burger King customers will be asked if they would like to donate a dollar to “Beat Cancer for Kids.” Upon donating $1, the patrons will receive a scratch card. All of the cards will be redeemable for an item worth at least $1. Those items include Burger King menu items and prizes from other sponsors of the “Beat Cancer for Kids” program, including a grand prize of a resort vacation trip to Jamaica for a family of four, including air travel and hotel accommodations. The trip is sponsored by Carlson Wagonlit Travel in Omaha.
Connie Miller, sales and marketing director for Carlson Wagonlit Travel, said the business is delighted to be involved and affiliated with Liz’s Legacy and the Beat Cancer for Kids Campaign.
“Liz Karnes was a delightful inspiration to women everywhere. From her role as the first female to serve on the Omaha Airport Authority, her involvement in education and her advocacy against cancer, she encouraged others with hope and inspiration,” Miller said. “By helping here, we are able to continue her cause – the fight against cancer – in her absence.”
Several other prizes will be available, including $150 Disney Store Gift Cards, $50 Toys ‘R’ Us Gift Certificates, Adventureland Park passes, Douglas Theatre passes, and UNO Maverick hockey tickets.
In just its second day, the promotion already was a success, Simmonds said, with some stores already selling more than 200 scratch cards.
“It’s such an important case, and people seem very willing to donate,” she said.
Tom Thompson, University of Nebraska Foundation’s director of development for the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, said he appreciates the participation of every sponsor.
“Not only is Burger King making a generous financial contribution to this promotion,” Thompson said, “they also are providing tremendous visibility for the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center and the important research work being done here.”
Beat Cancer for Kids has put a personal touch on the program by including six childhood cancer patients and survivors treated at the Medical Center. Jill Stephenson, treated for osteogenic sarcoma more than 13 years ago, was happy to participate in the program.
“It’s really important for people to realize that the advanced research at Eppley helps everyone in Nebraska and beyond who are faced with cancer,” Stephenson said. “Back then, the surgery I had was an aggressive and innovative procedure. It was an option only because the doctors and researchers are at the forefront of cancer treatment and research.”
In addition to Burger King and Carlson Wagonlit Travel, other sponsors include Bozell & Jacobs, Northwest Airlines World Vacations, KEFM 96.1, Disney Hand Worldwide Outreach, Douglas Theatres, Adventureland, UNO Hockey, and Artfac Graphics.