Sometimes the biggest challenge in cancer treatment is getting there. Thankfully, the American Cancer Society is there to help with a committed group of individuals that drive patients to nearby treatment centers to get the care they need. But according to the Society, a need exists for additional volunteers.
“The American Cancer Society is currently seeking volunteers from every town in New London County to drive cancer patients to their treatment appointments,” says Kathleen Turner, Community Executive for Health Initiatives, American Cancer Society. “If you have a car, and even one hour once a month, you can make a real difference in someone’s life by becoming a driver.”
A cancer patient who needs radiation therapy might require between 20 and 30 trips to the clinic within six weeks. A patient receiving chemotherapy might report for treatment weekly for up to a year. “Treatment can make a patient feel too sick to drive. In many cases, a patient is driven to hospitals and clinics by relatives or friends, but occasionally, they need to seek alternative transportation. That’s where Road to Recovery, an American Cancer Society community program, helps.”
Volunteer drivers receive simple training and an orientation from the American Cancer Society, and are asked to volunteer for at least one hour, one day, once a month. The Society matches drivers’ availability with the needs of patients who call.
For more information, or to volunteer as a Road to Recovery driver, contact Kathleen Turner, 860.440.6446 or Kathleen.turner@cancer.org
