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A8-The Canadian Champion, Wednesday, December 3, 2008 C A JR.COJNITY (905) 878-2881 Cancer patients need help getting to treatments By Angela Blackburn METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP riving people with cancer to doc- tor's appointments and treatment may sound like it could be depressing. Yet the long-time volunteers who do the job say ifs just the opposite and that's why they've done it for so long. The Canadian Cancer Society units in Oakville and Burlington are hoping resi- dents hear that message as the units are in desperate need of volunteer drivers. i don't think we'll ever have enough drivers because drivers have lives, too," said Debbie Mahaffy, unit assistant for the Canadian Cancer Society, Burlington unit. Added Lisa Moffatt, fundraising co-ordi- nator for the Oakville Unit: "We have 100 clients in Oakville and only 30 to 40 driv- ers." The situation is similar in Burlington and Milton (the latter being co-ordinated through the Burlington office). With snow birds preparing to take flight and others managing busy schedules now that Christmas is fast approaching, better screening leading to more diagnoses and an aging population, the driver shortage is nearing the critical point, according to Mahaffy, who said the units are very con- cerned about burning out the volunteer drivers they do have. "It's not fair," she said. Not only is it tough getting drivers rounded up, but particularly so finding those willing to commute back and forth to Toronto hospitals. Many volunteer drivers are retired from careers that saw them com- mute to Toronto and they just don't want to do it again. Others, who've never made the commute regularly, are not keen to start. So the local units of the Canadian Cancer Society are putting out a broad appeal. And then theres all that waiting - among the top virtues of volunteer drivers is patience. All that said, why would anyone want the job? "You would think it would be depressing, but its just the opposite. These are people (the patients) who have a zest for life," said Carole Terry, herself a cancer survivor who has been a volunteer driver in Burlington for ON THE ROAD TO A CURE: Volunteer drivers Tony Hordowick, Carole Terry and Alf Hilton invite people to come out and volunteer as the Canadian Cancer Society units all across Halton, including Milton, are currently experiencing a shortage of drivers n their transportation services. nearly five years in a bid to give back. "That was one of the concerns I had, but it turned out to be the exact opposite," agreed Tony Hordowick, a driver in Burlington for six years. Hordowck said one of his funniest days stacked up when be drove a car full of breast cancer patients to treatment and, bc still chuckles as he recalls, they all spoke very openly on the ride - as though he wasn't there. "I heard far more details than 1 want- ed to," he laughed. The funny stories about what happens on trips for treatment and appointments that tum into adventures, friendships and often unexpectedly good times, as well as poignant moments make it all worthwhile for the volunteer drivers. Oakville's Alf Hilton hasn't had cancer touch his family, but said hes been driving for seven years because the help he can give to others at a time of great need nakes all the difference - to them and to himself. The drivers also watch as fnendships arc born among the various patients who get a ride in their cars. Sometimes patients who get the worst news are able to receive comfort and support from others on the ride. "The patients realize they are not alone," said Mahaffy of the specific trips and in their health situation. MahafIy said she recalls a wife who insist- cd on going with her husband to his treat- ment for prostate cancer. Not long after, the wife called Mahafly to say she would not be going again - as her husband and the other prostate cancer patients who rode wnh them were "having too much fun" and so ber sup- port wasn't necessary. There's driver training provided for vol- unteers, said Mahaffy, but its not about driv- ing, its about dealing with cancer patients. Ride-alongs are also arranged for new driv- ers so they're able to learn the ins and outs of parking and systems at the 13 hospitals Halton cancer patients attend for treatment. In fact, its those types of details the driv- ers can relieve the patients of as they focus on their own health and emotions. Many of the patients are seniors who wouldn't be able to get to treatment without the help of the cancer society. Others are par- ents with young children where both part- ners can't take five weeks off work to get their children to daily treatments. Yet others are simply too weak or ili after treatment to even consider driving them- selves or taking local transit - which is dif- ficult in itself as many treatment locations are in a different city and transit connections are sparse if not non-existent. Volunteer drivers must maintain liability insurance on their vehicles, but are reim- bursed 35 cents per kilometre for their fuel costs, and the cancer society provides park- ing vouchers for the hospitals to which they drive. Those interested in volunteering as a driver in Milton can contact the Burlington Unit at 1251 Northside Rd., (905) 332-0060 or burlington@ontario.cancer.ca. Saturday, December 6, 2008 7:30 pm Knox Presbyterian Church OSTEOPATHIC SERVICES with Meredith Craigie BPHE hons., CK, CMT, NT.Osteopathy (CC) migraines • TMJ (jaw pain) • anxiety / depression • lower back pain • women's health • whiplash injuries Advantage