For cancer patients in Atlanta and around the country, a program called Road to Recovery has been, literally, a lifesaver.
Organized through the American Cancer Society, the Road To Recovery program provides cancer patients with free rides to their chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
“Many patients don’t own a vehicle, can’t afford the extra gas, or don’t have access to public transportation,” said Jennifer Broocks, associate director, Access to Care Solutions Delivery for the American Cancer Society. “Some patients may be elderly and unable to drive, too ill to drive, or have no family or friends who are able to provide regular assistance with transportation. Even the best treatment can’t work if a patient can’t get there.”
In Atlanta, about 100 volunteers regularly provide transportation services, but the need is double that, Broocks said.
“We have so many more requests than available drivers,” she said.
According to Evelyn Barella, the director of regional integrated marketing, in the Metro area most rides requested come from Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb and Cobb counties.
“Fulfillment rates vary, but the average in Metro Atlanta is 44%,” Baralla said. “The national average for ride fulfillment is 51%.”
To be considered for the free program, patients must be undergoing oncology treatments. They often get referred to the program by their physicians or find out about it through the American Cancer Society. Rides can be scheduled by calling 1-800-227-2345 a few days in advance of the appointment.
WATCH: Free Rides for Cancer Patients: Hope Behind the Wheel
Volunteer drivers from ages 18-84 must have a valid driver’s license, a safe and reliable vehicle, and proof of insurance. The American Cancer Society conducts criminal background and driving record checks on all drivers and provides free training, according to the organization.
“Many volunteers joined the Road To Recovery program because it’s personally rewarding and offers the flexibility to fit into their lives,” according to a release from the organization. “Volunteers choose the rides that work with their schedules.”
It’s personal for both drivers and patients
Longtime Dunwoody resident Pamela McKinstry has been a Road to Recovery driver for more than a year, and she has found inspiration in her clients’ stories.
“These people have so much joy and optimism, and truly believe that their treatment is going to work,” McKinstry said. “I’ve loved getting to know all their stories.”
McKinstry, who estimates that she has provided about 75 rides during her stint as a volunteer, said she feels a great amount of angst when she learns that a patient has to cancel chemotherapy or radiation because they have no transportation.
“When there’s no way to get there, they have to delay or cancel treatment,” she said. “It makes me so sad. Some of these people have given up their driver’s license because they are so sick, or aren’t sure they can drive themselves home after receiving treatments, so for many, Road to Recovery is their only option.”
Dunwoody resident Charlotte Ray, who has used the service for two years, said she has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the Road to Recovery volunteers.
“In a town that has so many traffic issues, for someone to leave their homes to bring you to these appointments – it’s absolutely incredible,” Ray said. “I get emotional just thinking about it.”
Ray said she has received rides from volunteers like McKinstry, as well as from cancer survivors who want to give back after using the service themselves.
“Every one of the volunteers has been kind, educated, reliable, and most of all, really excellent drivers,” she said.
To learn more about volunteering for the Road To Recovery program, call 800-227-2345 or visit the ACS’s Road to Recovery site.
