ST. JOSEPH — Cancer patients often miss or delay treatments because they do not have access to reliable transportation, but Berrien County residents can help these cancer patients by giving them a life-saving ride. The American Cancer Society, in partnership with Lakeland HealthCare, is currently seeking volunteers for its Road to Recovery program, which provides free transportation to those battling cancer.

Road to Recovery is looking for volunteers that have reliable transportation, driver’s license and proof of insurance, are willing to submit to a background and department of motor vehicle check, and can commit to a short training session. Most rides occur during the day Monday through Friday, so daytime availability is also a key qualifier. Following training, volunteers can commit as many or as few hours as their schedule allows.

“This year, more than 1,000 Berrien County residents will be diagnosed with cancer. They will find themselves needing chemotherapy, radiation, and other medical care,” said Ann Moenke, hospital systems account representative for the American Cancer Society. “We want to do everything we can to ensure these individuals, who are already going through so much, are able to get the treatment they desperately need. To do that, we need more volunteers in and around Berrien County willing to drive patients to Lakeland’s Marie Yeager Cancer Center and other local treatment facilities.”

To learn how you can become a Road to Recovery volunteer, call (800) 227-2345.

 

About Lakeland HealthCare

Lakeland HealthCare is a non-profit, community-owned health system, which includes three hospitals, an outpatient surgery center, rehabilitation centers, long-term care, hospice, home care services, and physician practices. The Marie Yeager Cancer Center at the Lakeland Health Park provides a highly-qualified team of cancer specialists and state-of-the-art technology for cancer detection and treatment, all in a 30,000-square-foot facility designed to promote health and healing. For more information, visit www.lakelandhealth.org.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight.

As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, about 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call (800) 227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.