Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) joined the American Cancer Society in issuing a “Road To Recovery Challenge.” The goal of the project is to recruit 50 new volunteer drivers for the American Cancer Society’s service program.  “Road to Recovery” links patients in need of a ride to cancer treatments with volunteers willing to donate their time and the use of their car to provide free transportation. 

“Every one of us has been touched by cancer in some way and can recognize the multitude of challenges cancer patients face,” said Congressman Higgins.  “Patients should be focused on fighting the disease and not fighting for transportation to treatment sites.  The American Cancer Society’s “Road to Recovery” provides an invaluable service to patients, particularly those living in areas like Chautauqua County, who must travel one to two hours each way, several times a week to receive treatment at Roswell.” 

“We have a serious need for drivers, especially as we head into spring,” said Gretchen Leffler, regional vice president of the American Cancer Society.  “The fact of the matter is, all it takes is a small amount of time and a vehicle to help save a life.  It’s a great way to fight cancer here in our community.”

Congressman Higgins noted that Chautauqua County resident Bob Williams is one of the American Cancer Society’s star volunteers with well over 500 “Road to Recovery” trips completed. 

Cancer treatments can be difficult and sometimes exhausting for patients.  Often people fighting the disease are unable to drive themselves to and from their therapies.  That’s where the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program comes in.  The patient is picked up at their home, taken to local treatment facilities, like Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and given a ride home at the end of their therapy, free of charge.

A 2006 American Cancer Society Chautauqua County profile estimates that 16 Chautauqua County residents are diagnosed with cancer each week. 

Last year, volunteers provided about 3000 free, roundtrip, rides for local cancer patients.  About 80% of those rides were to Roswell Park Cancer Institute.  Drivers can volunteer as often or as infrequently as their schedule permits, which makes it easy to get involved with the program.  For more information or to volunteer for Road to Recovery, call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345.

To receive rides to treatment through the program, cancer patients must be able to get in and out of a car by themselves.  Rides must be scheduled at least one to two weeks in advance of treatment and rides will only be provided to and from cancer treatments.

Currently, the Road to Recovery program has about 80 volunteer drivers and helps approximately 350 local cancer patients per year.  Health care providers often identify transportation as a major barrier to treatment.  On average, more than 9,300 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in Western New York.  Locally, the disease claims more than 3,700 people per year.

Congressman Higgins has been a vocal advocate for increased national funding for cancer research.  Earlier this month Congress approved a budget that begins the doubling of funding for cancer research, an increase of $6 billion, demonstrating a new and long overdue commitment to this cause. Under the previous administration, there were $250 million in proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health over the last five years.

"Our Nation’s budget is not just a spending plan, it is a statement of America’s values - and I don't think there's a more important statement than that made relating to cancer in this years budget,” Higgins said in testimony before the House Budget Committee last month.  "This is an extraordinary time of discovery that will increase the survival rate for people with every type of cancer.  Ending all suffering and death due to cancer is a goal that is within our reach and it should be America’s goal.”