SPANISH FORT, Ala. — An American Cancer Society nationwide program named “Road to Recovery” needs volunteers to transport cancer patients to and from treatment in Baldwin and Mobile counties.

Mary Kathryn Walker, communications and marketing specialist with the ACS, said a training session was held last week in Baldwin County.

“We are working on recruiting volunteers,” she said. “This is a great way for people to get involved who want to volunteer, but don’t have a lot of time or money.

“If people could just give an hour or two in the morning and take a cancer patient to treatment, it means the world to that patient,” she said.

Volunteer drivers would drive cancer patients to medical facilities and to physician visits, Walker said.

This will enable the cancer patients to stay on a regular treatment schedule for those who cannot drive themselves or don’t have another way to treatment.

To volunteer to be a driver, you must call the American Cancer Society and attend the training session.

Volunteer drivers must have a valid driver’s license, a safe driving record, personal automobile insurance and either own or have access to a car.

At the Baldwin County training session on Oct. 17, one of the volunteers was a cancer survivor.

“I am a cancer survivor myself, and ever since it happened to me, I just wanted to help other people who have cancer and are going through that,” Olivia “Dee Dee” Avent said.

She said she was real excited when she read about the program in the newspaper and called the ACS office immediately to sign up. She said she knows it can be a devastating experience and she understands what cancer patients are going through.

Avent said she has been cancer-free for more than 10 years, having been diagnosed in 1996 and 1998.

Avent said the training taught the volunteers what to expect when dealing with a cancer patient, and the need for sensitivity for what the patients are going through.

Drivers can expect radiation therapy treatments to take a shorter time than chemotherapy treatments which may take up to two hours, Avent said.

Drivers have the option of staying and waiting for the patient’s treatment to be completed, or they can come back after the receptionist at the medical facility calls them to tell them the patient is ready for pickup. The ACS will provide drivers with a list of treatment centers and directions.

Cancer patients can call the ACS to inform the staff when they need to be transported for medical treatment.

Individuals are welcome, as well as groups or clubs that want to be volunteer drivers.

Walker said a local enterprise is currently encouraging their employees to attend the training session, so they can all pitch in and help.

Walker said in addition to receiving medical treatment, a benefit for the patient is having someone to talk to and knowing that somebody cares enough to transport them for treatment.

“Cancer patients need a friendly and caring face,” Walker said.

Another training session will be held in the near future.

For more information, contact Natalie Coal, a health initiatives representative for the ACS at 251-344-9858 or call ACS at 800-ACS-2345.