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Cancer DriveLine seeks volunteers in Sooke

Non-profit organization helps cancer patients in Greater Victoria get to medical appointments
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A volunteer driver for Cancer DriveLine helps a patient get to their medical appointment. Cancer DriveLine started in 2015, and helps cancer patients in Greater Victoria from Sidney to Sooke get to any medical-related appointment. Currently, the organization is looking for volunteer drivers in Sooke. (Photo from Cancer DriveLine website)

A non-profit organization that drives cancer patients to medical appointments is looking for volunteers in Sooke.

Cancer DriveLine started in 2015, and helps cancer patients in Greater Victoria from Sidney to Sooke get to any medical-related appointment.

“Everyone in the organization has been affected by cancer in some way, whether they are a survivor, or know someone whose had it, so we understand the issues they go through,” said Simon Harvey.

The group operates solely off donations and volunteerism, and has helped more than 890 people so far.

“It is meant to be a last resort. We encourage patients to use friends and family as means of transportation, but we want to be there for people to fall back on if they can’t find a ride,” explained Harvey.

The organization has about 80 volunteer drivers but only three of them are from Sooke.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had to turn some patients down because we don’t have enough drivers out that way,” Harvey said.

They are looking to have around six drivers in Sooke, who are available at least one day a week to drive a patient. Drivers are required to use their own vehicles, but will get refunded for gas.

To become a driver, you must be a non-smoker or have a clean smelling vehicle, a clean driving record, a minimum of $3 million in third party liability car insurance and a criminal record check.

“They say volunteering is good for the soul, and I must say volunteering for this sort of thing is pretty rewarding. We’ve had letters from people telling us they would not have survived had it not been for what we’ve done,” Harvey said.

“It also helps give patients peace of mind, who already have so much stress happening in their lives, to know that they can count on us to get them to their treatments.”

To volunteer, donate, or to learn more about Cancer DriveLine, please go online to cancerdriveline.ca.



editor@sookenewsmirror.com

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