THE KSN DREAM HOUSE FOR THE CURE

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Driven for the Cure plates roll off the line

by Anita Cochran
KSN News

WICHITA, Kansas -- Last week we told you about the Driven to Cure license plate -- soon to be on cars all over the state of Kansas. Tonight an update. The delay is over and the plates are rolling off the production line right here in Wichita.

Even though they turn out more than 600,000 license plates each year, employees at Wichita's Center Industries still get excited when a new model is in production.

Elysse was already a breast cancer advocate, taking part in the last four Wichita Komen Race for the Cure events.

"You know there's lots of women who have breast cancer and they have a lot of problems and go through life like that," said Elysse. "It's a worthy cause."

Working on the driven to cure plate is a bonus.

For Peter Jonas, every tag's personal. His father started Center Industries with the idea of putting the physically disabled to work and a contract he desperately wanted to fulfill.

"I read in the paper license tags were being made in Arkansas, not like in prison like everyone thought, so his thought was, 'why should Kansas have tags made out of state?'"

Now, 33 years later, all state tags are made here -- as are other goodies, including aircraft parts -- but there's always been a soft spot for plates -- this one most of all.

"This has special meaning to me," said Jonas. "My mother died of breast cancer back in 1989. There wasn't a lot of awareness back then and this is kind of bringing it to light and I think it's important to do so."

Eileen Jonas was just 46 when her battle began.

"She found a lump in her breast. And they went in and they removed it, they did a biopsy, and found that it was malignant."

Peter remembers the chemo, the suffering, a 13-year battle that ended in death...and wants nothing like it for the women in his life....including his wife

"It scares me for all women, and the fact that most people don't think about it, so based on that we have conversations from time to time just to make sure she's doing proper thing."

If the plates his workers turn out today make those conversations happen in more homes, chances are we won't just be driven to cure, perhaps we'll celebrate together uncovering one.

The plates could arrive in tag offices in the next few days. The $50 fee to get one of the tags will be spent by the University of Kansas Cancer Center to educate all Kansans about breast cancer.

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