The Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels of Hope Transportation Program provides people living with cancer rides to and from their cancer treatment appointments. Dedicated volunteer drivers donate their time and use their own (or Society owned) vehicles to help people living with cancer get to the hospital or cancer centre. New patients who register are required to pay an annual registration fee of $100.00 (the fee can be waived if there are significant financial challenges requiring no fee be levied for compassionate reasons). Patients under the age of 18 are exempt.
The real challenge for Wheels of Hope is to have enough drivers available so that a large number of patients sign up and then WofH can only provide rides 3 out of 5 days each week. Its a real supply and demand balancing act.
Steve Watson of Markham, Ontario reached out to Stittsville Central stating that the Wheels of Hope transportation program administered by the Canadian Cancer Society is seeking more volunteer drivers in our area and would we share his message. We said ‘gladly’ knowing that cancer touches the lives of so many in our community.
Steve is a volunteer driver and has been driving cancer patients to various hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) since 2014. “In addition to driving, I also enjoy being an informal ambassador for WOH since we always need more drivers across Ontario to meet the demand,” shared Steve.
Here is a link to Steve’s heartwarming story covered by the CBC for their ‘First Person’ segment – https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/first-person-steve-watson-wheels-for-hope-1.6910449
“The Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels of Hope program is looking for more volunteer drivers to help residents in your community,” said Steve.
Wheels of Hope are pleased to share that Honda Canada is a National Sponsor of WofH and donated 10 Odyssey white vans to the Canadian Cancer Society in 2020 for driving patients to their medical appointments and treatments. They can be seen in some promotional posters and videos for WOH.
If you, or someone you know, is looking to fill some time in your day, loves to drive and wants to support people with cancer, we encourage you to volunteer with Wheels of Hope.
As a volunteer driver, you can give the gift of a ride to people with cancer who need help getting to and from their life-saving cancer treatments and other appointments. Mileage reimbursement or a tax receipt is provided.
Visit www.volunteercancer.ca and click on Wheels of Hope. For more information, please email volunteer@cancer.ca.