Suzanne’s story
After her husband died of cancer in 2010, Suzanne Ince dedicated herself to giving back and decided to volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels of Hope Patient Transportation program.
For some patients, simply getting to treatment can be a difficult task, especially if they are dealing with physical or financial challenges or if the treatment centre is far from home. In a global pandemic, this anxiety is amplified. Thanks to your support, the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) continues to provide Wheels of Hope — our signature transportation program for those needing a lift to get to their cancer treatment appointments. Volunteer drivers not only provide return trips for patients, but they also offer friendly support and kindness at a time when patients need it most.
“Many patients are unable to drive themselves and it is extremely stressful for them to take public transit to, and particularly from, their treatments. It goes without saying, that continually taking taxis could be an additional financial burden,” says Suzanne. “The Wheels of Hope program is imperative to maintain as it allows patients to be assured of reliable return transportation for their treatments, thus allowing them to concentrate on the positives of their journey with cancer,” she adds.
At the Canadian Cancer Society, we are committed to uniting and inspiring Canadians to take control of cancer. That’s why we are always funding high performance research that improves cancer outcomes and addresses the greatest opportunities for progress. It’s why we lead change in the most pressing areas of cancer policy including prevention, access, affordability and support. And it’s why we provide the highest quality cancer information for all Canadians, promote cancer prevention and provide targeted support to help people with cancer, their families and caregivers cope.
And our impact is far-reaching, geographically. Working as a national organization allows us to operate more efficiently and ensure donor dollars are spent effectively to benefit people here in Calgary and all Canadians, regardless of where they live.
Below are a few of our impact highlights from 2020/21 that were made possible thanks to the support of our donors and volunteers:
We set ourselves apart from other cancer charities or foundations by taking a comprehensive approach against cancer. We are also the only national charity that supports all Canadians living with all cancers across the country.
Here’s how we are doing more:
Over the last 80 years, at the Canadian Cancer Society, we’ve played a leading role in taking action against cancer. Without our donors and volunteers, we would not be able to fund research, provide information and services, educate people about how to prevent cancer and advocate for positive changes.
About 2 in 5 Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime. We need your support now, more than ever, to help us save and improve lives.
There are just a few ways to support our organization, such as: