News

Newk's to raise $100K toward diagnosis, treatment of ovarian cancer

September 8, 2017

Newk's Eatery is calling on partners and patrons across its 115 restaurants to "Join the Fight" against ovarian cancer. September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, so the chain is asking guests to add a dollar amount to their purchases to fund research instrumental in the diagnosis and treatment of what has been dubbed this generation's "silent killer," according to a company press release.

Each year, 200,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with ovarian cancer — with only 46 percent of women surviving longer than five years. When caught and treated early, 92 percent of women with ovarian cancer can live at least five years. Unfortunately, because there is no method of early detection and symptoms are vague, most women are diagnosed when their cancer has already spread. The daunting survival rate hits particularly close to home for the Newk's Eatery family.

When Newk's CEO Chris Newcomb's wife, Lori, first visited her doctor for stomach pain, the last thing she expected to walk out with was an ovarian cancer diagnosis. Blindsided and heartbroken by a type of cancer very few recognize or understand, the Newcombs knew it was time to help get the word out and decided their growing restaurant brand — Newk's Eatery — was the way to do it.

"Ovarian cancer is the number one cause of gynecological cancer deaths. There's no screening test, and the symptoms often go undetected until the disease is in advanced stages," said Lori Newcomb, who was diagnosed with stage IIIC of the disease in 2013, and continues her battle today. "Together with our restaurants and guests who have so much heart, we aim to change history by funding groundbreaking research for early detection and a cure."

All proceeds collected will go to Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance.

"OCRFA is grateful to Lori Newcomb for bravely sharing her story and her commitment to shedding an important light on ovarian cancer. And we thank Newk's Eatery's guests and team members who continue to be incredible partners in the fight against ovarian cancer, raising much-needed funds for life-saving ovarian cancer research," said Audra Moran, president and CEO of OCRFA. "Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest diseases facing women today, and the generosity of the Newk's Eatery family is pivotal in helping us defeat ovarian cancer."

An extension of the brand's ongoing Newk's Cares initiative, this September's fundraiser will add to the more than $500,000 already raised by Newk's Cares over the past three years. Later in the month, Newk's will host its fourth annual Ovarian Cycle spin event in Jackson, Mississippi.

In honor of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Newk's restaurants are going teal — the color adopted by the global ovarian cancer awareness movement — and switching Newk's signature black cups for teal ones. Newk's has made its stand against ovarian cancer an enduring one by placing educational materials about Lori's Story and warning signs of the disease in every restaurant and on the Newk's Cares website.

The brand has also permanently replaced its traditional red straws with teal straws and Newk's 2-O water bottles with "Newk's Cares" water bottles. With 10 cents from every water bottle sold year-round donated to OCRFA, diners have the chance to join the stand against ovarian cancer 365 days a year at any Newk's restaurant, according to the release.