For more than 20 years, the American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery program has been providing patients with free transportation to and from area facilities including, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Sisters Hospital, Radiation Oncology Group and the Summit Park Medical Mall for life saving cancer treatments. Considered to be one of the American Cancer Society's most extensive and successful programs within the State, Western New York's Road to Recovery program is in vital need of volunteer drivers for Erie and Niagara counties.

Nancy Hanavan, the Society's senior director of cancer control and patient and family services, attributes the program's success to Western New York's invisible team of volunteer drivers who provide the most number of rides in New York and New Jersey with nearly 6,000 one-way trips a year. She said new volunteers are needed because many of the Program's current drivers are retired and retreat south during the winter months and the increasing demand for the program.

"If people can't get back and forth to treatment, they're obviously not going to get better," said Hanavan. "We know that a lot of people don't have any family members who might be able to take them. Also they, themselves, may be too ill or their treatment is making them too tired to drive." Hanavan also says that the program, due to capacity concerns, is for those patients who have no other means of transportation.

If you are a licensed driver that is willing to donate your time (Monday through Friday, daytime hours) and use of your vehicle to transport cancer patients to their treatment appointments, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345. There is no minimum time commitment, and the Society will work within the volunteer's availability.

All volunteer drivers participating in the Road to Recovery program will be provided with specialized training conducted by the American Cancer Society.