Snow Birds Going South

Leaving Cancer Patients In Need

WILTON — Sometimes the biggest challenge in cancer treatment is getting there. The American Cancer Society has a committed group of individuals that drive patients to nearby treatment centers to get the care they need. But according the society, many volunteer drivers have headed south for the cold weather months, leaving many cancer patients without rides to the treatment they need now.

“There is a great need for people to help by picking up cancer patients from their home and transporting them to their nearby treatment centers,” according to Michelle Wolf, area director of cancer control.

The American Cancer Society is currently seeking volunteers from Bethel, Bridgeport, Brookfield, Cornwall, Danbury, Falls Village, Lakeville, New Fairfield, Newtown, New Milford, Norfolk, North Canaan, Norwalk, Redding, and Ridgefield to drive cancer patients to their treatment appointments.

“If you have a car, and even one hour, you can make a real difference in someone’s life by becoming a driver,” Ms Wolf said.

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.

“Some volunteers say driving patients is one of the most rewarding jobs you can do,” said Leon Cameron, an associate for the American Cancer Society. “Sometimes a driver will have the opportunity to bring the same patient several times, get to know them, and be able to offer support. For patients who have no family in the area, volunteer drivers really make a difference.”

For more information, or to volunteer as a Road to Recovery driver, contact Leon Cameron at the American Cancer Society at 203-563-1519 or via email at leon.Cameron@cancer.org.