Committee tours Buffett Cancer Center

    The daunting yet rewarding task to “Round Up a Cure” for cancer research became very real recently for members of the 2019 Cattlemen’s Ball Committee from Chase County.  
    The group toured the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center in Omaha to see firsthand what their fundraising efforts will continue to do.  
    “I was amazed at how the Buffett Center is designed to all work together for the patient. The doctors, scientists  and staff are all right here, meeting together to analyze a patient’s condition and to communicate the best treatment options,” Marlene Cox, Ball Committee member said.
    “I was also impressed with the places that were created within the Center to give the patient and family the ability to enjoy seeing the stars or a beautiful garden from their confinement, rather it be from a wheelchair or a bed,” she said.   
    Ball Co-host Allison Sandman of Wauneta said, “It was the most touching tour and afternoon spent at the Buffett Cancer Center. We learned that every patient’s treatment is designed around them and their cancer.  No two patients are treated the same.”  
    The 2019 Cattlemen’s Ball, this year in Chase County, is June 7-8 along the Frenchman Creek near Enders Reservoir.
    Ninety percent of all proceeds from the Ball will be given directly to the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, which opened in Omaha in June 2017. It utilizes the most advanced biomedical and technological tools available.
    The other 10% of the proceeds will stay in southwest Nebraska to benefit local medical services and organizations.  
Visit health, wellness tent
    Among the many opportunities at the Ball, the health and wellness tent gives guests the chance to learn more from our area hospitals.  
    “Chase County (Community) Hospital, Community Hospital (in McCook), the Callahan Cancer Center and Dundy County Hospital have teamed up to sponsor the health and wellness tent,” Sandman said.  
    The Buffett Center will share research projects, skin cancer screenings and the area hospitals will use an inflatable colon to educate about colon cancer.  The American Heart Association will provide information on strokes.  
    “It’s so important to learn about all the new techniques to detect all types of cancer,” said Deb Hrcka, Assistant Executive Director of Chase County Hospital Foundation and Chairman of the Health and Wellness Tent.
    “It will be fun for everyone to walk through the huge eight-foot inflatable colon.”
    Ball Co-hosts Derek and Allison Sandman of Wauneta and Wayne and Chris Krausnick of Imperial encourage everyone to come.
    “We want everyone to know that this is a special event and worth the ticket price. You’re not going to find better entertainment and variety of activities in one weekend,” Allison Sandman said.  
    Tickets are on sale now and must be purchased by May 15.  No tickets will be available after this date and will not be available at the gate.  
    Tickets can be purchased at www.cattlemensball.com or mail checks to PO Box 9, Wauneta NE 69045.  
    The $400 Trail Boss tickets include both Friday and Saturday events while the $100 Top Hand tickets are for Saturday afternoon into evening only.
    The Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska, Inc. is a 501 © 3 non-profit.  
    The “Ball” truly is for everyone and much more than a fundraising event for cancer, Sandman said. Guests will enjoy gourmet food featuring Nebraska beef, the health and wellness tent and others, Nebraska wine tastings, participate in a Fun Run or a golf outing, watch the skills of cowboys at the Ranch Rodeo, witness works of Nebraska artists, shop at the General Store, enjoy three concerts and place bids at silent and live auctions.
Promise Petals available
    Promise Petals, potted flowering plants, will be placed in the serenity tent, another place to experience at the Ball, as a memorial or as a celebration of survival.
    At $100 each, purchasing a Promise Petal pot is a way to remember those who have been lost to cancer, those who are fighting cancer and those who have survived. The plants will include a display card for designating a loved one(s). Afterwards, plants can be taken home and enjoyed.
    Promise Petals can be purchased by sending a check payable to Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska, PO Box 9, Wauneta, NE 69045. Promise Petals forms are also online: cattlemensball.com or on the Cattlemen’s Ball Facebook page.