American Cancer Society seeks help with coordinating treatment trips for patients
By Meagan McGone
mmcgone@hometownnewsol.com
BREVARD -- For those affected by cancer, obtaining treatment is critical.
And, for the American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery program, the ability to drive local cancer patients to and from those lifesaving treatments is crucial, too.
"We are faced with a desperate situation," said Gina Becker, patient services manager for the American Cancer Society. "We cannot provide patients with transportation to and from their treatments because we do not have coordinators who can match the patients with an appropriate driver."
Ms. Becker said the American Cancer Society has a need for volunteer coordinators to manage the Road to Recovery program's daily drivers in Brevard County. The Road to Recovery program is operated by volunteers who drive local cancer patients to and from their chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments. The American Cancer Society needs volunteer coordinators to match patients with drivers and schedule trips to and from treatments.
"Patients are matched with drivers based on locations and time schedules," Ms. Becker said. "We need coordinators who can put those two together for a successful trip to treatment and back home again.
Ms. Becker said that no special skills are required, other than the desire to help out in the community, and training is provided.
An integral part of treating cancer successfully is making sure cancer patients receive their treatments, but many find that making transportation arrangements is a challenge.
Last year, the American Cancer Society provided more than 3,100 cancer patients with rides to treatment in Florida.
Aiming to creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays, the American Cancer Society nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem.
A nonprofit headquartered in Atlanta, the American Cancer Society has 12 geographic divisions, more than 900 local offices nationwide and a presence in more than 5,100 communities.
For more information, or to help, contact Gina Becker at (407) 581-2535 or gina.becker@cancer.org.