WELLINGTON COUNTY – The demand for volunteer drivers continues for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels of Hope program.
The volunteer- and donation-led program, which transports cancer patients to and from treatment appointments, is now struggling to meet the needs of patients.
“We can only [operate] with the kindness of volunteer drivers,” program volunteer recruiter Mark Kahan told the Advertiser.
The program began in Ontario in the early 1970s and has expanded to Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Kahan noted the demand for drivers usually picks up in September and October and carries on throughout the winter months.
“I think people are more reluctant to drive in the winter,” he said. “Cancer patients probably shouldn’t be driving themselves, but a lot of them do.”
According to Kahan, just two drivers are available in all of Arthur, Elora and Fergus.
“We could definitely use more drivers there, but we could always use more drivers all over Wellington County,” he said.
“If we could get six volunteers … that would be amazing and take the pressure off current drivers.”
In 2023 a total of 132 clients were supported with a total of 1,220 round trips, equalling over 90,000 kilometres.
In 2024, 148 were supported with 1,967 trips equalling over 178,000km.
“We are on track for higher numbers in 2025,” Kahan noted.
“We are transferring vulnerable people so we have to make sure we have the right people behind the wheel,” Kahan said.
According to a cancer society report, patients that receive a diagnosis will spend on average $33,000 in their lifetime “and one of those costs is transportation so it does help a lot,” Kahan said.
“Wherever you live in Wellington County we could use your help.”
Client Mary Robinson-Schmidt told the Advertiser, “I don’t know what I’d do without [Wheels of Hope].”
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in March and started her Wheels of Hope journey in June as she attended her first chemotherapy session.
“I’m 84 and my husband will be 86 next month and he doesn’t drive anymore,” explained Robinson-Schmidt, who has three grown daughters who help with appointments but work full-time.
“You have enough stress especially when you’re first diagnosed and it’s a shock,” she added.
“The program takes away a lot of the stress.”
Robinson-Schmidt noted the volunteer drivers are “absolutely fabulous” and she has gotten quite comfortable driving with strangers.
“I went for 12 chemotherapy treatments and now I’m having 20 radiation treatments,” she explained.
At first she had a female driver “but I’ve had gentlemen since and they’ve been as polite and courteous as you could ever imagine,” she said.
Robinson-Schmidt couldn’t say enough good things about the program and plans to make a donation at the end of her treatment.
“I’m very grateful,” she said.
To register for the program a person must:
- reside in the program area;
- be referred by a member of their health care team;
- receive a cancer diagnosis;
- receive treatment for cancer, or attend follow-up appointments;
- have no means of other transportation; and
- pay an annual fee of $100 for unlimited rides.
Volunteers must be available Monday to Friday during the day; have a good driving record; drive a smoke-free, reliable vehicle; go through a criminal background check; and complete an interview with recruitment officials.
Those considering volunteering can sign up at volunteercancer.ca.
Any questions can be answered by emailing volunteer@cancer.ca.
