MAKING LAS VEGAS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE

Cancer patients need rides to treatments

By Beth Fisher

CREATED Dec. 27, 2012

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  • The American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery program takes patients to their doctors appointments. Video by ktnv.com

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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Imagine being a cancer patient and having no way to get to your appointments.  It's happening right here in Southern Nevada which is why the American Cancer Society launched it's Road to Recovery program.  But they need more volunteer drivers.

Alan Johnson has been battling cancer since last summer but cab fair was getting too expensive. That's when he heard he could qualify for free rides through the road to recovery program. "It's been a lifesaver. Literally. I've got all these volunteers driving me. I've got nothing but respect and admiration and gratitude."
 
Alan's volunteer driver today is Ron Oltmanns who chooses to drive cancer patients to their appointments 2 or 3 times a week. "I guess I've been amazed that generally their attitudes have been so upbeat. They are much better attitude wise that i would be if it were me."
 
Ron drives patients to their appointments, then comes back after their treatments to give them a lift home. But the American Cancer Society needs a ton more Rons.
 
Debra Armstrong is with the American Cancer Society.  She says,  " These are lifesaving treatments and so, if they don't get to their treatments, it's hard for them to get better. So it's critical we help them out. A lof them don't have friends and family that can help them and they don't feel well enough to drive themselves."
 
The American Cancer Society needs more drivers.  A lot more drivers. They have 25 and they need 100 to meet the current need. And you can volunteer as little or as much as you'd like.  Click here for more information.