Getting to and from medical treatments is one of the greatest concerns cancer patients face during treatment.
To ensure patients get to those much-needed treatments, the American Cancer Society provides free rides through its Road To Recovery® program.
The Society is currently looking for volunteer drivers in the Northern Kentucky counties so that all patients have transportation when they need it.
An estimated 26,400 Kentucky residents will learn that they have cancer this year; however getting to their scheduled treatment may be a challenge.
“One cancer patient requiring radiation therapy could need anywhere from 20 to 30 trips to treatment in six weeks,” said Heather Robison, Program Manager for the American Cancer Society.
“A patient receiving chemotherapy might report for treatment weekly for up to a year. In many cases, a patient is driven to hospitals or clinics by relatives or friends, but even these patients must occasionally seek alternative transportation. That’s where the Road To Recovery program comes in.”
“The program not only helps patients but is also rewarding for the volunteer. Several of our drivers have volunteered for a number of years,” added Robison. The program has been available in Northern Kentucky for several years, but sadly, there are not enough drivers to keep up with the need. In 2018, cancer patients requested 796 rides to treatment, but unfortunately, 442 rides went unmet due to no volunteer available, leaving patients scrambling to find alternate transportation.
There will be information meetings being held for anyone interested in becoming a volunteer driver:
Erlanger
Tuesday, June 11th from 11 a.m.-noon at the
Erlanger Branch Library 401 Kenton Lands Road, Erlanger.
Burlington
Burlington from 1-2 p.m. at the
Burlington Library 1786 Burlington Pike.
This is an opportunity to learn about the program and get any questions answered.
To be a volunteer driver, an interested person must simply have a reliable vehicle, a valid drivers license, proof of auto insurance, a good driving record and access to a computer with minimal computer knowledge.
For additional information about the Road To Recovery program call 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org. Please register for the information meeting by calling Heather at 404-327-6583 or email Heather.Robison@cancer.org
