Care Shuttle transporting cancer patients to treatments now free after Umbrella Group Great Southern decision
Cancer patients in the Great Southern can now access free transport to and from their treatments as a unique community-run service announces it no longer has to charge for its Care Shuttle.
The Care Shuttle — run by the Umbrella Group Great Southern — will no longer have to charge an average $20 fee to take patients from the City of Albany area to the radiotherapy clinic at Albany Health Campus.
Care Shuttle convener Mary Williams said she was 'absolutely delighted' by the news which was announced by the UGGS board last week.
'We've managed to raise extra funds and of course we are delighted, absolutely delighted and thrilled to give our patients free back and forward from their appointments, wherever they may be, locally,' she said.
'It's just been a long time coming and there's been a lot of hard work behind the scenes, but it is very, very exciting.'
She said the fee removal was thanks to the generosity of local organisations and businesses.
'Our local people have been very kind, and we've been going out doing little talks, and getting $500 here and $500 there, people paying for the petrol and this sort of thing,' she said.
'After saying all of this, we do have to survive so we ask if our local people through the Great Southern could come on board and contribute to this worthy cause, to keep this Care Shuttle on the road.
'It's imperative that we do this, and it's imperative that we continue.'
The Care Shuttle was purchased last May with $40,000 that Ms Williams had raised to buy a radiation therapy machine for the region after the State and Federal governments committed a collective $19.8 million for the device. The machine is located at Albany cancer clinic Genesis Care.
Ms Williams decided to divert the funds to the Care Shuttle after learning how difficult it was for patients to get to and from the facility.
Care Shuttle administrator Noeline Rowsell said though the $10,000 in Federal funding was a huge boost to the group's kitty, it would not last forever.
'We're stepping out in faith that the community will keep donating like they have, because at this point it isn't looking likely we're going to get (extra) government funding,' she said.
'There's the days where we don't have clients and we still have to cover so if people are coming in and helping us, like, for example, the Bingo Group paying our rego, that's a big thing that we don't have to pay out for.
'We love doing what we do, and our clients really, really appreciate it . . . so we just have to make sure the community keeps up the generosity.'
Cancer patients within the City of Albany can book the free shuttle service on 0431 775 649.
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