LAKELAND - The Road to Hope Community Support Foundation continues to be dedicated to helping those with cancer, and the not-for-profit is always on the lookout for volunteers.
While other organizations have a mandate to educate the public about cancer, Road to Hope is focused on supporting people with cancer in the Athabasca and Lac La Biche areas, by offering transportation services to medical appointments.
According to Jessica Wallace, coordinator for the foundation, for those who require rides to out-of-town appointments, the process is quite simple - they fill out a form and rides are provided by volunteer drivers.
“We have a wonderful group of volunteer drivers who use their time and vehicles to do this,” Wallace told Lakeland This Week, adding that the Kinsmen Club of Lac La Biche has a van that members of the foundation can use for trips in that area.
Clients are picked up from their homes, taken to appointments, and then brought back home again, all without charge, Wallace explained. She stated that the volunteer drivers can claim a mileage expense, and the organization follows Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) guidelines pertaining to that.
As with other non-profit community organizations, Road to Hope is always on the lookout for more volunteers and drivers.
Last year, Wallace said, there was a push on in the Lac La Biche area in a bid to garner interest and get more people involved as board members and drivers. Right now, there are six members from the Lac La Biche area, which includes Blair Norton, who serves as president of the Road to Hope Community Support Foundation, and five other drivers.
Currently, 30 clients use the volunteer-run service.
“Some are only once or twice a year, but others have multiple appointments a month,” said Wallace.
She said the rides are offered throughout the year, and in the three years that she has been with the Road to Hope Foundation, there have only been three trips that have had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather conditions.
“As one of my clients says, unfortunately cancer doesn't wait for anything,” she said.
Each year, the Road to Hope Community Support Foundation hosts two fundraisers – an annual golf classic and the Run for Hope. This year, one of the events will not be taking place.
While the 14th annual Golf Classic is set to take place on Sept. 5 at the Athabasca Golf Course, the Run for Hope, which was held last year in June at Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park in Lac La Biche, will not be proceeding.
Wallace said although there was a core group who strongly supported the event in the past, the run was not catching on with people as the organization had hoped. The board felt it was time to start something new.
This new event comes in the form of the inaugural spring scramble, another golfing event, this time held at the Lac La Biche Golf Club on June 13.
In addition to the two events, the Road to Hope Foundation uses volunteer members to work casino fundraisers. The group's last casino was last October and “terrific success" as a fundraising option.
Other funds to support the organization come from local and regional donation from individuals and businesses.
“The rest comes to us by way of donations from businesses, organizations and individuals,” she said.
With funding, community support and a growing roster of volunteers, Wallace said the core needs of the organization can be met, and more people in need of the service can be helped.
“That’s really how we’re helping… is just alleviating that stress and giving them more opportunities to get to all of their appointments,” she said.
The Road To Hope organization has a website with more details about joining as a volunteer, donating or using the service.
Lakeland This Week will be publishing a special Cancer Awareness section in the April 16 edition.
