The Leukaemia Foundation is urgently calling for volunteer drivers in Brimbank to help transport people living with blood cancer to vital medical appointments.
The foundation’s patient transport service has been providing people with free transport for more than two decades.
It provides more than 38,000 patient trips each year and last year travelled more than 1,557,779 kilometres – the equivalent of travelling more than 38 times around the world.
Ian ‘Skip’ Taylor has been a volunteer driver with the foundation for seven years and said it was a rewarding job.
“I’ve met some truly wonderful people … and it’s something I’d gladly do for the rest of my days,” he said.
“It’s purely volunteer-based and you let them know when you can work – it works around your schedule.
“Also, the cars we drive have the same rights as ambulances at the hospital, so we don’t have to pay and walk a mile through carparks.”
John Sunter was recently diagnosed with leukaemia and said the service was a blessing.
“Ninety days ago I didn’t know I was sick –since then I’ve had 24 trips to the hospital,” Mr Sunter said.
“I’d never felt sick but the chemo knocked the stuffing out of me. I couldn’t catch public transport or anything like that, so without these wonderful people, none of this would be possible.
“I was in shock and couldn’t have survived without these guys.”
Brimbank area residents can help continue the service by providing just a few hours of their time per week, fortnight or month.
To find out more contact 1800 620 420.
