First Posted: 2/20/2015
LIMA — When Liz Lengerich’s husband was diagnosed with cancer, she was worried she’d have to take time off work to get him to his treatment appointments.
Luckily, she heard of a service that could do that for her, and was able to stay at her job.
The service, called Road to Recovery, is run through the American Cancer Society and the Area Agency on Aging. It’s been in the area for about four years and serves seven local counties, some of which don’t have enough volunteers to get all the patients in need to appointments.
“Even if [cancer patients] have a good support system, [they’re] potentially going to run into trouble with transportation,” said Erica Petrie, mobility manager with the Area Agency on Aging and volunteer coordinator with Road to Recovery. “We’re seeing a need for it and it seems like almost everybody’s been touched by cancer in some way.”
Of the seven area counties served by Road to Recovery, Allen County, Auglaize County, Mercer County and Van Wert County all need volunteer drivers, Petrie said.
That’s why the American Cancer Society is hosting a driver training in Lima on Tuesday at Lima Memorial Medical Park from 1 to 3 p.m.
“The program not only helps patients, but is also rewarding for the volunteer. Several of our drivers have volunteered for a number of years,” said Marybeth Torsell, program manager for Mission Delivery at the American Cancer Society.
John Bos, 78, has been volunteering with the program for about three years and said he gets more out of it than the people he transports.
He gets “to see that I’m able to help somebody that needs and appreciates help,” he said.
In order to qualify as a volunteer, people must have a reliable vehicle, a valid driver liscense, proof of auto insurance and a good driving record, according to a release about the program.
“It’s got to be a person that can relate to people and work with people,” Bos said. “You’ve got to have the empathy to work with people who are facing major challenges in their life.”
To register for the training, call 888-227-6446, ext. 5101.
