The Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels of Hope Transportation Program helps people with cancer get rides to and from their treatment appointments. CCS’s Wheels of Hope (WOH) Volunteer Driving Program is available across Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, PEI, Quebec, and Ontario.

New patients must pay an annual registration fee of $100, except for those under 18. Trips can be booked with at least three business days’ notice, and patients need a referral from their treatment team to register. For a cancer patient to avail of the support for the Wheels of Hope program, a patient must have received a cancer diagnosis. The patient must be residing in the listed provinces such as Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland, and Labrador (within 30 km of St. John’s) and must be referred by a member of their healthcare team.

Volunteer drivers use their personal cars or society-owned vehicles to transport patients and are reimbursed for their mileage. They have the chance to meet and help interesting people from different backgrounds. Often, the patients they help prefer to talk about hobbies (like hockey!) or share their own life stories instead of discussing cancer.

The Wheels of Hope program in Windsor, Leamington, Kingsville, and Amherstburg urgently needs more volunteer drivers. The recruitment coordinator says there are not enough drivers to meet demand, leaving some patients without transportation. This program depends on community support, and volunteers play a vital role in helping cancer patients reach the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre for essential treatment. For more information on volunteering, visit the Canadian Cancer Society’s website.