PhillyCarShare

PhillyPatientRide – Exciting new initiative between PhillyCarShare and the American Cancer Society creates free rides for cancer patients to lifesaving appointments.

Beginning January 4, 2011, PhillyCarShare and the American Cancer Society will be joining forces to sponsor a program that matches volunteers with car share vehicles to provide cancer patients with free transportation to scheduled treatments. This initiative includes an organized coalition of businesses, universities, and nonprofit organizations with Penn, Hahnemann, Temple and Jefferson hospitals participating in the initial phase. The project will feature a coordinator who will be responsible for scheduling rides, vehicles, and volunteers.

Transportation to scheduled treatments ranks as one of the greatest challenges patients face on their road to recovery. Every day, thousands of cancer patients face the struggle of securing reliable transportation in addition to facing the exhausting fight to beat cancer. In 2010, Temple University Hospital reported that an estimated 40% of their patients required transportation assistance. Many treatments are missed because patients are unable to keep their scheduled appointments solely due to lack of transportation.

As a result of the daily treatment regiment and tiring nature of the treatments, patients must rely upon others for their transportation needs. Often public transportation is too strenuous or unavailable. In many cases, a financial burden is placed upon family members who must arrange their work schedules to accommodate appointment schedules. Lack of transportation can leave patients with few options for completing their treatment schedules.

PhillyCarShare and the American Cancer Society have responded to this challenge with a practical solution which will utilize car share vehicles for the good of the community in a unique and creative way. This is one of the first projects of its type in the country.

“It is amazing that something as simple as a ride can help change someone’s life,” says Gerald Furgione, Executive Director of PhillyCarShare. “We are delighted that we can provide the resources required to bring this program to life.” Volunteer drivers are currently being recruited and are needed a minimum of one time per month. Times are available from 6 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday. All volunteers must be over 21 years old and will receive training from the American Cancer Society.

Individuals who would like to consider becoming a volunteer and helping others through this important outreach should email info@phillypatientride.org for further information.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.5 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit http://www.cancer.org/

About PhillyCarShare

PhillyCarShare is a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization founded in 2002 with the mission of reducing automobile dependence in the Philadelphia region by offering a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to car ownership. PhillyCarShare promotes an urban lifestyle in which members walk, bike, and take transit more, and save an average of $4,000 annually versus private vehicle ownership. In addition to the Philadelphia residents who participate in car sharing, PhillyCarShare currently serves our business community of over 1300 for-profit and non-profit companies, universities, and government agencies. To learn more, visit http://www.phillycarshare.org.