The Canadian Cancer Society is searching for more volunteers to help get patients undergoing treatment to their appointments.
"Wheels of Hope, with the kindness of volunteer drivers, transport people in the Chatham-Kent area who are undergoing cancer treatment that don't have a way to get to their lifesaving treatment in London or Windsor," said Recruitment Coordinator Mark Kahan. "The volunteer drivers get to use their own vehicle, and we provide them with a mileage reimbursement or a tax receipt."
There are several reasons why people need a ride to their appointments.
"People shouldn't be driving a vehicle after some of their treatments, or they might not have a car or family or friends close by to drive them," said Kahan. "Several people go for short radiation treatments, and that can be up to six weeks, Monday through Friday every day, and that's a lot to ask someone to take that much time off work to drive them."
Kahan added that scheduling is very flexible for Wheels of Hope volunteers.
"We don't operate on weekends, we follow all the cancer centre hours. But if they're available three or four days a month, that would be amazing. If we got 10 or 15 people that gave three days per month, that would fully restore service, and make sure that anyone from the Chatham-Kent area that needs a ride, gets one," Kahan said.
Volunteers can choose when and where they're willing to help out and take time off when they need to.
To sign up to be a Wheels of Hope volunteer, visit www.volunteercancer.ca, email volunteer@cancer.ca, or call 1-888-939-3333.