Group intends to drive breast cancer message via license plates

Although it's common to see Husker red on specialized license plates in Nebraska, pink could be making an appearance in the near future to help raise breast cancer awareness across the state.

Komen Nebraska is making strides to submit enough applications to the state to allow breast cancer awareness specialty license plates.

The Susan G. Komen Nebraska nonprofit organization raises funds to support the Komen Promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. Seventy-five percent of donations raised by the Komen Nebraska Affiliate stay in the state to provide services to the women in Nebraska communities.

While no proceeds from the plates benefit Komen Nebraska, the license plate is designed to raise awareness of the critical need for education and early detection of breast cancer. Nebraska is ranked No. 40 in the U.S. for mammography screening rates. According to Komen Nebraska, low screening rates can cause higher than normal late-stage diagnosis among the more than 1,200 Nebraskans diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

Komen Nebraska volunteer and breast cancer survivor Linda Gill is one of the many Nebraskans fighting for the breast cancer plates to make their debut in Nebraska.

"We are pursuing a specialty license plate promoting Breast Cancer Awareness to raise more awareness of the disease and encourage women to get screened," said Karen Daneu, executive director of Komen Nebraska. "A license plate is a 'mobile billboard' promoting breast health."

"I have girls in Colorado and Arizona and they have breast cancer plates there, so I've always wanted one," Gill said. "Other states like Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky have breast cancer plates and I think it's just a great way to spread awareness state wide."

In Nebraska, the only specialized plates that are available are Nebraska Cattlemen research and education, Union Pacific Railroad, Creighton University and University of Nebraska.

"I went to the DMV to get more information about creating a breast cancer awareness plate, but a nonprofit organization has to be the ones who apply for a speciality plate. That's when I went to the Susan G. Komen organization to get help with the application," Gill said.

State of Nebraska guidelines for speciality license plates include, a nonprofit organization has to apply for the desired plate, there are guidelines regarding what colors can be used and the state requires 500 applications before production can begin.

Currently, the license plate design is white and includes the pink breast cancer awareness ribbon with green letters. "Early Detection Saves Lives" is quoted on the bottom in pink letters.

Five hundred, pre-paid applications are needed from interested individuals before the applications are sent to the State for production.

Application forms that can be found on the Komen Nebraska website, along with a $70 check, should be sent to Susan G. Komen, Attn. Angela Phillips, 12103 Pacific St., Omaha, NE 68154.

Checks will not be cashed until 500 applications have been received by the State. Gill said that if the 500 applications aren't received the checks will be destroyed.

"Currently, we only have 200 applications, so we still need 300 people to send in applications," Gill said. "Nebraska just got enough signatures for the Cattlemen's license plates, and that took them a year. However, once people started seeing the Cattlemen plates, the state is now up to 1,300 applications to receive one. Because this is a great cause, we are hoping that is what will happen with the breast cancer plates."

"We are short of the required 500, but we have extended the deadline to get the required number and raise awareness about early detection. Hopefully, this plate would remind, encourage and stimulate conversation and raise awareness," Daneu said. "About half the number of received applications are from outside of (Omaha), and at least five are from Scottsbluff, a few from Gering and one from Dalton."

Applications for the breast cancer plates will be accepted through Breast Cancer Awareness month ending Oct. 31.