A cancer diagnosis can be difficult enough to handle without having to worry about how to get to and from medical appointments.
For people in Prince George, the Freemasons of B.C. and Yukon are helping make that aspect of treatment much easier through their volunteer-run cancer car program.
Drivers will pick up any cancer patient in Prince George and drive them to appointments at the BC Cancer Agency for the North, UHNBC, a physician's office or any other Northern Health facility.
"As long as it's cancer related we will take them to their appointment," organizer Terry Foulds said. "We will take them there and a return trip back."
Since the service began in April, Foulds and others have been trying to raise awareness about the cancer car in the community. He said the biggest misconception the group wants to dispel is that it's only there to service clients of Kordyban Lodge. In fact, drivers will pick up and drop off any cancer patient living anywhere within city limits.
About 50 volunteers ensure the service is able to run Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Although the Freemasons organize, administer and fund the program, the majority of the volunteers are community members not affiliated with the group. Each day is divided into two volunteer shifts, the first from 7 a.m. until noon and then from noon to 5 p.m., during each shift one volunteer runs the switchboard and one is the driver.
Gary Peacock and his wife Brenda volunteer every second week as a way to give back to the community.
"You meet some pretty fantastic people," Gary said. "You meet some people and they can be in tough shape and you just have to appreciate what they're going through and you're just trying to help them."
Since cancer treatment can be so physically and emotionally challenging, drivers are encouraged to let the patients set the tone for the ride.
"Sometimes they'll ask if you have a radio, can we listen to some music," he said. "Sometimes they want to just be really quiet and if they do, you just respect that."
Some volunteers who work the same shift all the time end up meeting the same patients over and over again, which helps build the relationship.
The Freemasons began offering rides for cancer patients in Vancouver in 1989 and the service has expanded province-wide as new cancer clinics have opened their doors. Having an established program elsewhere made it easier for the Prince George group to get its service up and running, but given their affiliation with the Canadian Cancer Society they had to wait for Kordyban Lodge to open before they could begin giving rides.
"It was a need that was there and we wanted to get out and be more visible in the community," Foulds said. "This is a good way to get visible and do something to help people."
Currently about seven or eight people a day get rides from the service, but the capacity for the van is 20 patients a day. There have been 870 total patient trips provided by the Prince George volunteers in the first five months of service.
The Freemasons are willing to add a second vehicle to the fleet if demand warrants.
Patients need to be able to get in and out of the vehicle without the assistance of the driver, but they are allowed to bring one support person with them to help them with mobility issues or to be with them for their appointment.
Patients are asked to book their ride at least 24 hours in advance to allow the volunteers to arrange the daily schedule for the drivers.
Anyone interested in more information can call 250-645-2373.
