INDIANAPOLIS — Kelli McCormick just turned 40, and she’s embarking on the fight of her life against breast cancer.
But the mother, grandmother, and Ben Davis High School graduate is getting a little help from her Flap Jacks family.
McCormick has been a waitress at the 10th street restaurant since it opened in May of 2011. Understanding the immense costs she will endure during her treatment, the restaurant has created Cure for Kelli bracelets and decked out the restaurant in pink in an effort to drum up donations.
“We know she works hard here and she’s been with us since we opened,” said Doris Maples, owner of the restaurant. “So we thought ‘let’s wear T-shirts. Let’s sell the Cure for Kelli bracelets, knowing she’d have to take some time off of work and sometimes insurance doesn’t cover everything that it needs to. She has five children and five grandchildren and she’s a huge part of their lives.”
The campaign kicked off yesterday. Maples purchased 1,100 pink bracelets that have “Cure for Kelli” etched into them. McCormick lost her mother to breast cancer, so Maples said they’re doing anything that can be done to help her undergo successful treatment.
“Some days are a little more emotional than others,” Maples said. “She definitely wants to work up until the time she goes to surgery. After surgery, she doesn’t know how it’s going to go, but she wants to come back to work as soon as she can. She’s been so dedicated and loyal.”
The bracelets are selling for $1 each and there is a collection box at the front of the restaurant.
“As far as a certain amount, we’d love to raise as much money as we can and sell out of the bracelets,” Maples said. “The staff is wearing T-shirts with the breast cancer ribbon on the back and hopefully people will ask why we’re wearing them and go from there. We’re trying to help a local family member out. She’s part of the Flap Jack’s family. We’re up for any ideas.”
Maples said that during McCormick’s shifts, some of the decorations are kept in the back because she doesn’t want to draw attention to herself.
“She is very grateful,” Maples said. “I asked her first, and said I didn’t want to do anything that would draw attention to you, because she’s not that kind of person. She baby-sits her daughter’s son a lot, and said ‘I know I’m going to need (help)’. If there’s any way we can help her out, we want to do that.”
McCormick began treatment in mid October and is set to have surgery soon.
The restaurant is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is at 7435 W. 10th St., across the street from Ben Davis High School. For more information, call 273-0123 or find them on Facebook at 10th Street Flap Jacks.
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