UNMC, Creighton to host Kicks for a Cure soccer event

UNMC’s Eppley Cancer Center and Creighton University plan to score more points in the fight against women’s cancers with the fourth annual Kicks for a Cure event.

The two-day event will take place today and Saturday at Creighton University’s Michael G. Morrison, S.J. Stadium in Omaha. Former District 66 Superintendent Ken Bird, Ed.D., and his wife, Annie, who is coordinator of the Munroe-Meyer Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at UNMC and a breast cancer survivor, are again serving as the event chairs. Former U.S. Sen. Dave Karnes and daughters Korey, Kalen, Kara and Laurel are the honorary chairs for this event.

A free soccer clinic, conducted by participating players and coaches, will be held today for underprivileged youth. Following the clinic, a family-friendly kickoff dinner-fundraiser will take place at the Harper Center at Creighton. 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.

On the field Both high school and college women’s soccer teams will play exhibition matches on Saturday at the following times: 11 a.m. — High school Class A teams, Millard West and Lincoln Southwest; 1:30 p.m. — The University of South Dakota vs. the University of Kansas; 4 p.m. — The University of Nebraska at Omaha vs. Truman State University; 6:30 p.m. — Creighton University vs. Iowa State University. Photo and autograph sessions will immediately follow all the collegiate games. All seats are general admission. 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 Omaha-area First National Bank locations. Re-entry throughout the day will be permitted with a hand stamp.

All proceeds from the weekend will go to Liz’s Legacy, a fund started in memory of the late Liz Karnes, who died of ovarian cancer in 2003. Liz’s Legacy benefits research projects at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.

Last year, the event raised $154,000, bringing the total money raised to $404,000 over the past three years. One research project supported by Kicks for a Cure was the newly-established Breast Cancer Registry at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. The registry is an Internet based-questionnaire that enables all Nebraska women with breast cancer and breast cancer survivors to answer questions about their health and lifestyle. In addition, their health care providers furnish information on their treatments.

“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.

Proceeds from Kicks for a Cure also were used to fund a research project in collaboration with the Mobile Nursing Center at the UNMC College of Nursing to increase accrual rates for women and minorities in clinical trials.

For more information, visit www.kicksforacure.org.