Transport service helps cancer patients

A donation of $5,000 by Canterbury League Club to The Leukaemia Foundation’s Patient Service Transport program is ensuring blood cancer patients in the local area have safe, hygienic and reliable transport to and from treatment.

Under this program, 200 patients will benefit from a dedicated transport service facilitated by an enormous volunteer base. The Foundation expects over 1500 trips will be made to treating hospitals as a result of the program.

This service has several benefits including minimising the financial strain associated with transport for patients and their families. It also means immunocompromised patients do not have to catch public transport and risk further infection.

“Those living with blood cancer can undergo crippling financial situations due to the cost of treatment and loss of extra income as family members becoming full-time carers. The transport program is a practical service provided to relieve the pressure of extra costs,” said Gail Ladner, Managing Community Relationships Sydney and Sydney West at The Leukaemia Foundation.

This is the second consecutive year in which Canterbury has donated to this program.

“The Leukaemia Foundation doesn’t receive any ongoing government funding so without the help of the community, it wouldn’t be able to continue providing personalised support to those diagnosed and their families.”

The Leukaemia Foundation of Australia is Australia’s peak body for blood cancer, funding research and providing free services to support people with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders. Since inception in 1975, The Leukaemia Foundation has invested millions of dollars into research through initiatives such as World’s Greatest Shave.

“It is amazing how such a simple transport program can be so crucial to patients and their families but it is a vitally important service because it helps elevate some of the costs in such a stressful time,” said Dr George Peponis OAM, Chairman of Canterbury League Club.