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| The Road to Recovery |
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New program by American Cancer Society offers patients free transportation to medical appointments
03/29/09
Severo Avila, Features Editor
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Alice Welchel finds it hard to talk about the people who have helped her family so much. She gets emotional when asked about the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery transportation program. For several months now, program volunteers have showed up at her door to drive her sister, cancer patient Martha Darlene Balfour, to medical appointments. And it’s been a God-send. “Yes sir, it is,” Welchel said. “Up till about a week ago she went several times a week,” Welchel said. “And I simply could not take her. We needed the help. We needed it bad.” Welchel is herself living with a degenerative disease and said she can’t get around as much as her sister needs to go to treatment for breast cancer. That’s where Floyd County’s Road to Recovery program came into the picture. The program started last spring and is designed to provide free transportation for cancer patients to and from medical appointments. Local volunteer coordinator, Teresa Baxter, receives calls from the American Cancer Society Division Service Center with all ride requests for patients. She then contacts the local volunteers to arrange pick up and delivery of patients to their treatment appointments. “Driving cancer patients is rewarding to the heart and soul,” Baxter said. “To see the relief on the faces of clients when they know that someone cares. These cancer patients often have no one else to assist them.” ACA’s Mary Wright said the program has been helping patients in and near Rome for the past 10 months and has been successful. But with an increase in requests for rides, they need additional drivers in order to meet the requests for transportation into Rome for cancer treatment services. “Cancer patients in the surrounding areas of Polk and Chattooga counties could be served if additional Road to Recovery volunteers can be recruited and trained,” she said. The program in this are has six active volunteers, Wright said. Ideally they’d like at least 12. She said residents of Polk and Chattooga counties come to Rome for treatments including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Many need to be driven. “People from Summerville, Trion, Rockmart, Aragon, Silver Creek and even as nearby as Armuchee and Cave Spring need to get to Rome for treatment,” she said. “They don’t have the medical services they need in their immediate area.” Wright said volunteers are able to designate what dates and times they’re available. She added that all patients driven by volunteers are ambulatory, meaning they are able to walk unassisted. “We do not allow volunteers to carry or lift anyone,” she said. “All they have to do is drive. And we’re very appreciative of any time they can offer.” Welchel said she calls the American Cancer Society and alerts them of Balfour’s appointment schedule a few days in advance. “We have to give them four or five days notice in advance and tell them where the appointment is and who the doctor is, what time and how long it might be,” she said. Volunteers then show up at her door and escort Balfour to and from her appointment. “They’re angels,” she said. “They’re very nice and very friendly. They are wonderful. “In this day and age, as many bad things as there are in this world it’s heartwarming,” she added. “It gives you hope to know that there are still people out there who care.” Requirements for volunteering for the program include a good driving record, a valid driver’s license, auto insurance and a vehicle that is in good working condition. Rides are limited to Monday through Friday during business hours and are only for cancer treatment appointments. Training is free. For additional information about the Road to Recovery program or to become a volunteer, email mary.wright@cancer.org or call 770-429-0089.
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