UNMC’s Eppley Cancer Center and Creighton University plan to score more points in the fight against women’s cancers with the third annual Kicks for a Cure event.
The two-day event will take place on April 18-19 at Creighton University’s Michael G. Morrison, S.J., Stadium in Omaha.
District 66 Superintendent Ken Bird, Ed.D., and his wife, Ann, who is a breast cancer survivor, are serving as this year’s event chairs. Former U.S. Sen. Dave Karnes and daughters Korey, Kalen, Kara and Laurel are the event’s honorary chairs.
On Friday, April 18, a free soccer clinic, conducted by participating players and coaches, will be held for underprivileged youth. After the clinic, a family-friendly kickoff dinner fundraiser will take place at the Mutual of Omaha dome. Participating teams will be recognized, as will the local efforts of UNMC and Creighton to help alleviate the pain and suffering caused by women’s cancers.
Both high school and college women’s soccer teams will play in exhibition matches the following day. High school Class A teams Omaha Westside and Millard West will face off at 11 a.m., and a second match will be played between Omaha Marian and Omaha Burke at 1:30 p.m.
Truman State will play the University of Nebraska at Omaha at 4 p.m., followed by the final match of the day between Creighton and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at 6:30 p.m. Photo and autograph sessions will immediately follow both collegiate games.
Tickets are on sale at the Morrison Stadium ticket office. All seats are general admission, and tickets cost $7 for adults and $4 for youths. Children five years of age or younger are admitted free. Discount coupons — $2 off — are available at all 23 Omaha-area First National Bank locations. Re-entry throughout the day will be permitted with a hand stamp.
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Last year, the event raised $145,000, which was used to establish a Breast Cancer Registry, an Internet-based questionnaire that enables all Nebraska women with breast cancer as well as breast cancer survivors to answer questions about their health and lifestyle. In addition, health care providers can provide information on treatment options.
“The hope is that this data will assist researchers in understanding why women develop breast cancer in their lifetime and what factors influence their prognosis,” said Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.
Additionally, the money was used to fund a research project in collaboration with the UNMC College of Nursing Mobile Nursing Center to increase accrual rates for women and minorities in clinical trials.
“We are extremely privileged to share in the funds generated by Kicks for a Cure,” said Henry Lynch, M.D., director of Creighton’s Hereditary Cancer Center. “The monies will aid in expanding our collaborative efforts with colleagues from institutions in the United States as well as Europe.”