By simply enjoying a sub sandwich at Jersey Mike’s this Friday, TCU students, faculty and staff can help support the Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer organization of North Texas.

The program also includes WOKC day on Monday at Jersey Mike’s, where customers will receive a free regular sub in exchange for a minimum $1 donation. In addition, the TCU WOKC day on Friday offers the same deal for TCU students and staff only.

Morgan Whipps, a junior communication studies major and an intern involved with WOKC, said the partnership between WOKC and the Jersey Mike’s location on Hulen Street was a great fit for the TCU community. The WOKC day on Friday for TCU students will be at the location on Hulen Street only.

Whipps said WOKC is strengthening its involvement with Cook Children’s in Fort Worth, and there is no better way to further the partnership then by involving the university in their efforts.

“TCU is such a big part of Fort Worth,” Whipps said. “Cancer affects so many lives, and by getting Fort Worth and TCU involved, WOKC is able to help more families.”

Susan Zacheis, marketing director for WOKC, said the partnership between Jersey Mike’s has been wonderful. During WOKC’s program, the Month of Giving, Jersey Mike’s would give a 25 cent donation to WOKC for each regular sub sold and a 50 cent donation for each giant sub sold from February 28 through March 27, Zacheis said.

“They wanted to get involved,” Zacheis said. “Their corporate culture has a giving back component, and they really believe in giving back to the community.”

Jersey Mike’s DFW-area owner Dalton Stewart said that this year, the restaurant wanted to make the special offer to the TCU community to get everyone involved.

“We are looking at taking it up a notch. Instead of just our main WOKC day, we are going to have one special offer to TCU and SMU,” Stewart said. “That day, anybody who comes through the door with a TCU ID will get a free sub as long as they drop $1 in the donation box. One hundred percent of the money goes to WOKC.”

The Month of Giving and WOKC days have allowed for four different pediatric kids research projects, two at Children’s Medical Center Dallas and the other two at Cook Children’s in Fort Worth. Zacheis said it allowed WOKC to expand its programs for research in Fort Worth.

Whipps said she was hopeful that WOKC could raise even more money this year, especially with a TCU-only day at Jersey Mike’s. She said encouraging the TCU community to enjoy a sandwich and to donate could help WOKC more than ever before.

“Last year, the Month of Giving raised approximately $50,000 to help move the efforts towards Cook Children’s,” Whipps said. “This year, they’re hoping to raise more to help more kids and families. Their ultimate goal is to be able to one day live in a world where children live cancer-free.”

Zacheis said there are many goals WOKC and Jersey Mike’s have for the donations, including funding for research and Cook Children’s special Buddy Bag program.

“We give every child that is admitted to the hospital with a cancer diagnosis items that are needed for a hospital stay,” Zacheis said. “Usually the diagnosis is right away and the family is out of town or can’t go home, and they need these items for comfort.”

Zacheis said along with the buddy bags, research for cancer prevention is extremely important.

“Cancer is the No. 1 cause of death by disease for American children. We need to raise awareness and funding so that we can provide more funds for research for these hospitals and provide hope for a cure,” Zacheis said.

Stewart said individuals also can help further by buying wrist bands at Jersey Mike’s for the cause. The wrist band proceeds go to WOKC and also include free chips and a drink with purchase. There are so many ways to participate, and he said there is no better cause.

“We built our company on giving back to organizations in the community,” Stewart said. “Over the last year, I have spent a lot of time with these kids and these families, and if you want to get yourself grounded, spend a day and see what they are going though. These kids are amazing. They are literally fighting for theirs lives, but they are so positive it’s amazing.”