Executive Summary – November 2018
170 volunteer drivers, dispatchers and many others. Their Mission is to provide safe, free transportation to cancer patients including those who live in Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and many other communities. If interested in volunteering contact: www.volunteercancerdrivers.ca
- An all-volunteer Society providing free, reliable transportation for cancer patients to and from treatment throughout most of the Lower Mainland.
- Started operations in Feb 2016 with 16 volunteer drivers and seed money from drivers.
- The Need:
- Many patients are elderly, frail and sick with scarce financial resources and limited support systems. Public transportation services are seldom a viable option.
- This service eases the physical, emotional and financial burden for cancer patients and their families and ensures patients with limited means can attend treatments.
- Patients who miss radiation therapy sessions have an increased risk of the disease returning.
- “Out of pocket” costs for cancer treatment, including transportation, are significant, despite having a universal health care system.
- Defining facts as of October 2018:
- 170 drivers, 7 dispatchers and an 8-member working Board – all volunteers.
- On track to complete over 8,000 round trips with patients, averaging 60 km. per trip with patients from 13 municipalities, ferries and airports.
- Patients receive treatment in more than 15 facilities throughout the Greater Vancouver area.
- Forecast to drive about 485,000 km. requiring around 22,000 driver volunteer hours in 2018.
- All operations home based, the Society has no owned or leased equipment or facilities.
- Volunteer drivers use their own vehicles for patient transportation.
- Annual growth in patient requests since inception has been 30-35% .
- Patient requests are forecast to grow by 25% in 2019.
- Key 2019 financial data:
- All funds are raised by Society volunteers soliciting municipalities, foundations, corporations, service clubs and the public.
- Budget expenses are forecast to be $280,000.
- Operating expenses (drivers vehicle stipend @ $0.44km.) account for 95% of budget; administrative costs about 5%.
- ** Volunteer drivers will donate back about $58,000 to the Society from vehicle stipends. (about 22% of the operating budget)
- Neither the Canadian Cancer Society nor the BC Cancer Agency support the Society.
- BC government provided a one-time start-up $30,000 grant in 2016, the BC Gaming Commission awarded a $30,000 one-time grant in 2017.
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Kenya – Michael B. – Racheal Project – 33 readers are ready for Kenya after workshop yesterday with Kay, Judy and Cleone.
Toy Lending Library – Cleone- Bring in your slightly used educational toys for a toy lending library that our club is working on for a First Nation's community near Merritt. Bring them in January please.
December 18 -Christmas Train 5:00-8:30pm. Come and check it out....and the murals too.
There will be two hot chocolate stations this year as well as the cookie decorating and face painting that Jeannie and Vida will lead.
December 19 - Club's AGM
December 19 - Gleneagle School Christmas Concert. 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Feb. 23 - Gleneagle School Jazz Gala 6:30 - 9:30 pm