Still time to volunteer for AOH gala

Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts will receive the 2008 Ambassador of Hope award on Oct. 18 in Omaha. Cancer survivors and their friends and loved ones are being asked to volunteer for the event.

Anyone who has been affected by cancer in any way — which is just about everyone — can volunteer for the Ambassador of Hope Gala on Oct. 18 at Qwest Center Omaha.

The volunteers will be asked to help form a human bridge from the Omaha Hilton to the Qwest Center, through which the 2008 Ambassador of Hope Award recipient — Good Morning America Anchor Robin Roberts — will walk as she makes her way to the gala.

The volunteers also will assist with the “Pledge for a Cure” event at the gala that will raise money for research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.

The gala, which is hosted by the Friends of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, is held every two years and is one of the top fundraising events in the city. In 2006, when legendary newscaster Tom Brokaw was honored, the event raised nearly $1.6 million for the cancer center.

Those who wish to volunteer can do so by clicking here. At the Web site, volunteers will be asked to provide a 100-word description of how they have been affected by cancer. These descriptions will be displayed on the tables at the gala to show attendees how the disease affects people.

On the night of the gala, volunteers will receive a light dinner and will be a part of a group picture with Roberts, a breast cancer survivor.

For more information about volunteering, contact Melonie Welsh at 502-4117 or mwelsh@nufoundation.org. Go to nebraskahope.org for more information about the gala.