The Brandon Office of the Canadian Cancer Society has purchased a new van for its Transportation Service thanks to the ongoing generous support of the Freemasons of Manitoba.

As a gold sponsor of the CCS Transportation Service, the Freemasons provide capital support for three vans in Winnipeg and two in Brandon, as well as provide many of the volunteer drivers. The CCS Transportation Service provides subsidized rides for cancer patients. Volunteer drivers travel more than 400,000 kilometers each year throughout Manitoba taking hundreds of people to radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and related medical appointments and home again.

“The arrival of the new 2010 Chrysler Grand Caravan SE, fondly known as Mason 5, is perfect timing,” enthused Teri Nicholson, Westman Regional Coordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society.

“We are in the process of expanding the CCS Transportation Service in this region. Currently southwest Manitoba has the lowest use of radiation therapy in the province, in part because service is now only available in Winnipeg. It is very difficult for people to leave their families and jobs for several weeks at a time as radiation therapy requires.

“With the improved access to cancer treatments and services that will result from the opening of the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre in Brandon early next year, we anticipate an increased need for the Transportation Service.

“One van will be dedicated to transporting Brandon residents to the new centre, while the second will continue to make the trip from Brandon to Winnipeg since certain types of cancer still need to be treated there. We will be recruiting additional drivers to help with this increased workload.

As well, we are planning to expand the service into interested rural communities using volunteer drivers with private vehicles and volunteer coordinators.

The volunteer drivers can be anyone with some free time on weekdays such as retirees, shift workers, farmers or seasonal workers – they just need to enjoy driving and helping people and have access to a reliable vehicle.

The coordinators can be individuals or community organizations such as a Seniors Services, service clubs or Healthy Community Committees.”

The CCS will be hosting information meetings in communities throughout western Manitoba this fall. As well, information is available at the Brandon Office by contacting 571-2805 or 1-888-857-6658.