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By Press Release |
Posted: Tue
7:07 PM, Feb 25, 2020
LINCOLN, Neb. - 700 guests came together at the 7th Annual Team Jack
Foundation Gala and raised nearly $455,000 for pediatric brain cancer research
at the Lincoln’s Marriott Cornhusker Hotel on Saturday.
The event,
presented by Elkhorn, Nebraska business, Fat Brain Toys, was filled with
touching moments and was emceed by Nebraska native and NBC NASCAR announcer,
Rick Allen, for the third straight year.
Amy Robach
of ABC News’ 20/20 and Good Morning America delivered the keynote. She shared
her journey with breast cancer and about when she was deciding whether to do
the on-air mammogram to promote October as National Breast Cancer Awareness
Month, Robyn Roberts told her that she might save a life. She went ahead and
did the mammogram and it ended up being her own life that she saved, as she
learned of her breast cancer diagnosis as a result of the mammogram. Robach
quoted a famous Charlie Brown cartoon, “We only live once, Snoopy”, said
Charlie Brown, to which Snoopy answered, “Wrong! We only die once. We live
every day!”
Of those in
attendance were over 20 families that have been affected by the disease, two of
whom shared their stories with the crowd. The first family was the Bill and
Jodi Simants family of North Platte, NE. The Simants’ 11-year old son, Grady,
was the Spotlight Story sponsored by The Home Agency and the Jim and Sharri
Baldonado family.
Grady was
diagnosed in 2015, underwent surgery, received treatment and then was
considered cancer free until September of 2018 when they learned that his
cancer had returned. After traveling to St. Jude’s in Memphis, Tennessee
countless times, they are currently looking for another treatment option as his
last clinical trial failed.
“St.
Jude’s is amazing, but we want to be close to home, where our support system
is, to fight this fight,” said Jodi Simants.
The Brent
and Kathryn Gehring family was the second family that shared their story. Their
daughter, Emma, was diagnosed at age 7 months and is now 7 years old and still
battling.
Late in
2019, after several months on a new trial drug called TAK580, which was funded
by Team Jack, Emma took a terrible turn which had her fighting for her life.
Brent Gehring explained, “the tumor was dying, because of TAK580. The problem
with medicine and the reason we can’t give up and we can’t quit is the tumor
was dying too fast. And because it was shrinking too fast, it was bleeding
which caused the seizures.” Emma is currently receiving inpatient
rehabilitative services to try to regain much of what she lost during that time
including her sight and her ability to sit up and to talk.
The live auction
powered by Proxibid featured 14 items including a pair of Super Bowl Champion
Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs jerseys, a Napa Valley Wine Trip and dinner
for eight with Nebraska’s Governor, Pete Ricketts. Glass Solutions, Inc and
Glass Solutions Foundation out of Itasca, Illinois was the Silent Auction
Sponsor this year. Over 130 items were offered to bidders ranging from
experience packages to autographed memorabilia and beyond. Guests took the inspiration
and ran with it as the two auctions together totaled over $100,000 raised!
Some of the special guests in attendance were Rex
Burkhead,
Jeremiah Sirles, Kenny Bell, Brent Qvale, Matt Slauson, Johnny Rodgers, and
Joba Chamberlain as well as Nebraska Athletic Director, Bill Moos and his wife
Kendra.
A special
highlight each year at the Gala is the bonding that occurs between the families
affected by child brain cancer and the former Husker athletes as well as just
among the families themselves.
The
Teammate of the Year Award, presented by NCR, was given to Cody Thomas for his
outstanding volunteer efforts in producing the Team Jack Radiothon since 2013.
He has helped the Foundation raise over $540,000 and immeasurable amounts of
awareness through the annual Radiothon held each September.
