Newk's Eatery Honors 200,000 Women With Ovarian Cancer by Raising More Than $700,000 for Ovarian Cancer Research

JACKSON, Miss., Feb. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of the 200,000 women currently living in the U.S. with ovarian cancer, Newk's Cares — the ovarian cancer awareness movement spearheaded by Newk's Eatery — raised more than $200,000 for research of the disease during 2017. Celebrating the beginning of its fourth year, Newk's Cares raised money through in-restaurant donations and the annual Ovarian Cycle® Jackson spin celebration held in its home base of Mississippi. To date, Newk's Cares has raised more than $720,000 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance with the goal of increasing the number of ovarian cancer survivors by improving the rate of early diagnosis.

"Newk's Cares funds the work of leading ovarian cancer researchers and we engage thousands of women and their loved ones in a conversation that has life-saving potential," said Chris Newcomb, Newk's Eatery's CEO and Co-Founder.

Created in 2014, Newk's Cares has since grown from a kitchen table idea to a national campaign in partnership with OCRFA — the largest global organization dedicated to advancing ovarian cancer research while supporting women and their families. Committed to calling attention to what has been dubbed this generation's "silent killer" and raising financial support for an ovarian cancer cure and treatment research, Newk's Cares started with the cancer diagnosis of its co-founder, Lori Newcomb, wife of Newk's Eatery CEO Chris Newcomb.

"When I was diagnosed with Stage IIIC ovarian cancer in 2013, I knew very little about this disease," said Lori Newcomb. "Right now, there's no screening test available to detect ovarian cancer early on, and that's why it's so important for women to be aware of the warning signs."

Ovarian cancer is the fifth-leading cause of cancer death among women, with only 46 percent of women diagnosed surviving longer than five years. That is compared to a 90 percent survival rate for breast cancer diagnoses. Early detection and treatment increase the survival rate to more than 92 percent. Despite the 200,000 women currently living with ovarian cancer in the U.S., it receives among the least financial support of any form of gynecological or breast cancer.

Newk's Cares is looking to change that. In honor of women living with ovarian cancer and in remembrance of those who have gone before them, Newk's Cares rallied its 115 Newk's restaurants and guests, and united more than 150 riders to pedal toward a cure during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in September. These efforts work in concert with Newk's Cares' year-round, in-restaurant campaign which builds awareness of the disease, provides information about symptoms, and donates 10 cents from every water bottle sold to ovarian cancer research.

For more information about Newk's Cares, visit NewksCares.com and follow the cause on Facebook.

About Newk's Eatery 
Based in Jackson, Mississippi, Newk's Eatery is leading the next generation of fast casual with its culinary-driven menu prepared in Newk's open-view kitchens, featuring made-from-scratch soups, fresh tossed salads, hand-crafted pizzas, hot toasted sandwiches and desserts. Founded in 2004, Newk's currently operates and franchises more than 115 units in 15 states and is gaining national attention for its accelerated growth and commitment to community. The newest Newk's restaurants feature a "Generation 2" design, presenting a fresh, on-trend look for the brand while maintaining the company's signature warmth and open-view kitchen. FastCasual.com named Newk's among its Top 50 "Movers and Shakers" in 2015 and 2016, while Franchise Times magazine ranked Newk's among its top "Fast and Serious" franchise brands for the second year in a row, and Technomic listed Newk's in its Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report. Also recently, the brand was named among NRN's Top 200 and Top 5 Fastest-Growing Chains, along with Restaurant Business' Top 40 Fast-Casual Chains. For more information, visit Newks.com, join the Roundtable Club or follow Newk's on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Blair Reich
972-388-5523
[email protected]

SOURCE Newk's Eatery