When John Fox heard that Cancer Council was desperately looking for Transport to Treatment drivers during COVID-19, he was happy to step in.
“I work interstate and couldn’t fly out due to the pandemic,” John said.
“I saw Cancer Council’s ad in the paper looking for volunteer drivers, and I just wanted to do something for the community.
“I’d been meaning to do something like this for a while. My wife has had breast cancer twice, and I’d seen patients who didn’t have their own transport getting help to and from the hospital, so there was a connection there.
John admits he was “a bit nervous” for his first trip.
“I didn’t want to be late, so I arrived really early! But as time went on, you get to know the people and you form real connections with them,” he said.
“My favourite part is meeting those different people and hearing those stories. How they cope with it varies – some people don’t really want to talk about it, but some do.
“Engaging with the people you drive is really rewarding.”
John encouraged anyone who was thinking about volunteering to get involved.
“If you’ve got enough time on your hands, it’s a great opportunity to help out, and you get something out of it,” he said.