Cancer patient Olin Bearden and volunteer driver for Rides of Hope Dean Fleharty pose for a photo furing a trip to Allison Cancer Center. Courtesy photo)
Rides of Hope-Big Spring is being coordinated by Donna King with the assistance of Gifts of Hope, Rides of Hope and the local RSVP program to transport Allison Cancer Center patients to and from appointments.
Rides of Hope is a volunteer program established by Anne Schwiening, a breast cancer survivor, to transport Allison Cancer Center patients who live in Midland County. Rides of Hope began serving the Midland area July 9, 2004. When other volunteer programs limit what can be done by the volunteer to help, Rides of Hope can and will fill the gap.
Rides of Hope-Big Spring came about out of a need for Donna’s brother, Roy, to receive treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Donna is employed full-time as a nurse and realized the hardship placed on co-workers by frequent absence, and so, set out to find other means of transportation for Roy. Rides of Hope was advertised at Allison. A call was placed to Schwiening, to seek assistance and the idea was born out of that conversation to work toward a resource for Howard County residents
Anne’s vision of Rides of Hope corresponds with the same idea that Donna felt would be necessary to meet the needs of her brother. More was needed than a “taxi” ride to and from treatments. The need for someone who would treat him like family was apparent.
“There is a need not only to take the patients to their treatments, but to take them to the pharmacy to pick up medications, to lunch, shopping for needed items, to church, to the hospital for tests or treatment that is a necessary part of their recovery,” said Donna. “Sometimes just to take someone for some fun time out of the house!”
Retired Senior Volunteer Services (RSVP) is sponsoring the new ministry. Volunteers are being sought to drive patients to and from Allison Cancer Center for treatment. To sign up, call Donna at 264-7523 and leave a message.
Rides of Hope was established to serve the patients and to meet more than just a basic need. Their motto is: Enjoy your time with them-so they will enjoy their time with us. Remember a smile given is a smile received! 1 Peter 5:2-4.
A meeting is planned to discuss this volunteer opportunity, Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, located at the corner of Fourth and Scurry. The meeting will be in the Youth Hall.
“We are excited about this program. We hope to be able to provide this service to any citizen of Howard County in need of transportation for cancer treatment,” said Donna.
