Cancer Connect is on the lookout for 20 volunteer drivers for a new free transport route linking patients in Mitchelstown and Fermoy with hospitals in Cork.
The service is expected to connect local patients directly with Cork University Hospital and Bon Secours Hospital Cork, following increased demand. A newly assigned eight-seater vehicle will serve the route, providing door-to-door transport for patients attending radiotherapy, chemotherapy, scans and consultations.
First established in 2011, Cancer Connect has managed to complete over 65,000 passenger journeys across the county. Helen O’Driscoll, manager of Cancer Connect, said the service means more than simply bringing patients from A to B.
“This service would simply not be possible without the extraordinary dedication of our volunteer drivers,” she said. “They provide far more than transport – they offer companionship, reassurance, and practical help during what can be one of the most challenging periods in a person’s life.”
ONE DAY PER MONTH
The charity is now actively recruiting volunteers in support of the new route. Drivers are asked to commit to just one day a month, collecting passengers along the route, bringing them to appointments in Cork and returning them home safely. A category B driving licence is all that is required.
Ms O’Driscoll thanked Cork University Hospital, Bon Secours Hospital Cork and Tesco in Mitchelstown for their support in putting together the new service.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the service can contact the Cancer Connect office on 021-2038525 or e-mail info@cancerconnect.ie
