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From left to right: Satori Guraedy, Zane Fried, Shannon Pokorny, Braeden Martin (sitting on Shannon’s lap), Rachel Raymond and Daniel Lemus-Sliger. Photos by Scott Dobry Pictures |
During the month of July, Burger King Restaurants® customers in 73 locations will be asked if they would like to donate $1 to “Beat Cancer for Kids.” The donation will get them a scratch card that will include a free Burger King food item worth at least $1.
The scratch card also provides a chance to win prizes from one of many sponsors. The grand prize is a family vacation for four sponsored by Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor in Los Angeles, including travel on Southwest Airlines and hotel accommodations. Other prizes will include items from Best Buy, Scooters Coffeehouse, the Lozier IMAX Theatre, University of Nebraska at Omaha hockey game tickets, and soccer and basketball tickets from Creighton University.
All donations will go toward childhood cancer research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.
The “BK Beat Cancer for Kids” promotion is part of Liz’s Legacy, a fund to advance cancer research and care through 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 campaign has expanded since last year and will include 73 Burger King Restaurants® in the Omaha area, Council Bluffs area, eastern Nebraska and the greater Des Moines area. Since 2004, BK Beat Cancer for Kids has raised $140,000. Sites in southeast Nebraska will include: Crete, Wahoo, Nebraska City, Plattsmouth, Fremont, Blair and Columbus. In addition to the Council Bluffs area, other Iowa sites are Red Oak, Iowa, Shenandoah, Harlan, Missouri Valley, Atlantic, Denison and Ankeny, Altoona, Fort Dodge, Carroll, Newton and Stuart.
Natalie Simmonds, manager of marketing and special projects, Simmonds Restaurant Management, Inc., said 23 Des Moines-area restaurants joined the campaign this year.
“We’re really excited and want to exceed the $100,000 mark this July,” Simmonds said. “Our Burger King employees and generous customers drive the success of the program with their hard work and enthusiasm.”
Tom Thompson, director of development, UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, said the reception of this promotion has been tremendous. “The growth of the campaign illustrates that people really do want to help this cause,” he said. “Burger King hopes to raise five times the amount they did just two years ago.”
The Beat Cancer for Kids campaign began in 2004 with Mike Simmonds, owner of 69 Burger Kings in the Omaha, Des Moines and Council Bluffs areas. He knows the struggle of cancer patients and their families, as several of his friends are dealing with cancer.
“This disease is always ‘top-of-mind’ for me,” Mike Simmonds said. “Obviously, dealing with cancer in a personal way really focuses the mind on the devastation that this disease can cause. While great strides have been made, so much more must be done. My research has taught me about the wonderful asset we have here locally with UNMC. This community has been great to me. The Beat Cancer program is a natural way for me to give something back and make good use of the many restaurant locations we have.”
Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, said the partnership with Burger King has been a great one. “Not only is Burger King making a generous financial contribution to this promotion, the initiative helps increase awareness about cancer and the UNMC cancer center right here in our community,” he said.
Beat Cancer for Kids promotion features six pediatric patients and survivors treated at UNMC. The children will be featured in promotional ads televised on KPTM Fox 42 and on Star 104.5 radio station in Omaha.
One of them is Shannon Pokorny, who has Hodgkin’s disease. Her mother, Rose Gee, said Shannon has turned her experience with cancer into a positive one by reaching out to help other children with cancer and their families.
“She is doing a lot of talking … reaching out with other kids,” Gee said. “She lived through her senior year with cancer. I never thought one of my kids would get cancer. At first I was so angry about cancer, but I think it taught us a lot. We used to take life for granted and it’s like now, life is too short.
“Shannon has learned a lot from having cancer. It made her decide what she wanted to do in life. We were sitting in the hospital and as soon as the nurse walked out of the room, she said ‘mom, I know what I want to be.’
Gee is excited about the promotion. “Hopefully we can find raise money and find a cure for cancer.”
In addition to Burger King and Southwest Airlines, other sponsors in Omaha include KPTM Fox 42 television, Star 104.5, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Creighton University, Lozier IMAX Theatre, Scooters Coffeehouse, Best Buy, Bozell & Jacobs, and ArtFac Graphics. Des Moines sponsors include KPWB television and Jordan Creek Century 20 Theatres.
Those interested in making a donation online or learning more about the promotion, can go to www.beatcancerforkids.com in July. The public, which also is invited to read the profiles of the 12 children who’ve participated in the campaigns, also can send notes of encouragement.
The following pediatric cancer patients and survivors of childhood cancers will be featured in promotional advertising.
Satori Guraedy, 5, Bellevue — Satori has been winning the fight against leukemia – blood and bone marrow cancer – since diagnosis more than a year ago. She’s in remission and looks forward to finishing chemotherapy this summer – she’ll be jumping rope, coloring and setting up Barbie on dates with Thomas the Tank Engine.
Zane Fried, 17, Omaha — Since diagnosis in January 2006, Zane has been working hard to beat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – cancer of the lymphatic system – and looks forward to completing chemotherapy this coming winter. He’ll shoot for the stars with plans to study directing at the University of Southern California’s School of Film. In addition to filming, Zane also enjoys swimming, comic books, disc golf and just hanging out with buddies.
Shannon Pokorny, 18, Omaha — After months of treatment, Shannon is in the home stretch of beating Hodgkin’s disease – lymphatic system cancer – with only a few months left of chemotherapy. Her next success will be attending UNO to begin the journey of becoming a pediatric oncology nurse, so she can help others through cancer, too.
Braeden Martin, 2, Omaha — Braeden was diagnosed late last summer with leukemia – blood and bone marrow cancer – for which he underwent a bone marrow transplant. He’s currently in remission. He enjoys the finer things, like going for walks, the outdoors, splashing in the water and playing with his dogs. He loves to ham it up for the camera, too.
Rachel Raymond, 8, Omaha — Since being diagnosed last year with lymphoma – lymphatic system cancer – Rachel has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments with two years yet to go – she’s currently in remission. She’s stylish, sporty, artistic and loves visiting her baby cousin Addison.
Daniel Lemus-Sliger, 7, Clarinda, Iowa — Daniel was diagnosed in November 2005 with acute lymphocytic leukemia – blood and bone marrow cancer – and he’s currently in remission with monthly chemotherapy for three more years. He loves being big brother to his little sister, 5-year-old Rebecca, in addition to writing, drawing and playing outdoors.