With one week until the kickoff of the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games, organizers still have a critical need for more than 500 volunteers.
More than 500 wheelchair athletes will arrive at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield on July 24 and will depart July 30, and hundreds of volunteers are still required.
Volunteers are needed to serve as lifters, wheelchair escorts and luggage spotters at the airport and at various hotels.
Other key areas where volunteers are needed include event site set-up and tear down before and during the games, which will take place July 25 through July 29.
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Volunteering also is an excellent way for high school students to earn community service credits for college applications.
More than 500 veterans are expected to compete, making the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games the largest annual wheelchair sports competition in the world. Athletes come from across the United States, Puerto Rico and Great Britain, and represent veterans who have served from World War II to Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Among the featured 17 competitive events are handcycling, quad rugby, basketball, weightlifting, track, field and softball.
Events will take place at the Qwest Center Omaha, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Northwest High School, Henry Doorly Zoo, and Mockingbird and Thunderbowl Lanes. Exhibition sled hockey will take place at Tranquility Ice Arena.
Volunteers under age 18 must have written parental guardian permission to participate in this volunteer program and written authorization for diagnostic and emergency treatment in case of injury.
For more information about how to apply to be a volunteer, contact Michael Wittrock at (402) 995-3283 or at michael.wittrock@va.gov.
The Games are sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed
Veterans of America. The VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System and the Great Plains Paralyzed Veterans of America are hosts of the 2008 event.
For more information, contact Will Ackerman at (402) 995-4719 or william.ackerman@va.gov.