Being treated for cancer is difficult enough, but it’s even more challenging if you can’t find transportation to your medical appointments.
That’s a problem Road To Recovery aims to address. Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the program connects people receiving cancer treatment with volunteer drivers.
“Even the best treatment can’t work if the patient can’t get there,” said Pamela Ritchie, Road To Recovery’s Vermont and New Hampshire program manager.
In 2018, the program supplied 1,800 rides in New Hampshire and 430 rides in Vermont to people traveling to and from cancer-related treatments, and it’s currently seeking volunteer drivers in the Upper Valley to meet an increased demand.
Patients are connected with drivers by way of an online service matching system. Volunteers supply information about their availability, such as schedule details and the maximum distance they’re able to drive.
Sometimes it’s a round trip while other times it might be one-way. Drivers ferry patients not only to hospitals but also to doctors’ offices — anything related to their treatment.
The driver is not required to accompany the patient to the actual appointment, so on round trips, they may arrange to do errands in the area while they wait, or bring a book and read.
According to Ritchie, riders and drivers often form friendships along the way.
“Some patients ask for the same driver,” she said. “Someone who’s familiar.”
Volunteers also feel like they’re getting something out of it. They may have lost a family member to cancer, or they know someone undergoing treatment and they want to pay it forward, Ritchie said.
“There are a lot of drivers who really feel like they’re getting the lift.”
Qualifications include a reliable vehicle, a current driver’s license, a good driving record, proof of insurance and access to a computer.
Once selected for the program, drivers complete an online training course that teaches them everything they need to know, from how to use the service matching system to how to make appropriate conversation when driving a patient.
“There’s a major sense of responsibility in trying to get a patient to treatment and back home,” Ritchie said.
Editor’s note: To learn more about Road To Recovery and apply to be a volunteer, visit cancer.org/drive.