Norm and Kaye Hawes: Two pillars of the Central Coast Courtesy Transport Program of The Leukaemia Foundation
By Beth Zucker
Norm and Kaye Hawes started volunteering for the Leukaemia Foundation after spotting an advertisement for new volunteer drivers in their local paper. They were immediately interested because Norm's brother had suffered leukaemia.
Norm drives patients with blood cancers to and from treatment and Kaye coordinates the service to ensure the program runs smoothly. They both get a great sense of satisfaction from their involvement with the program."You feel like you're doing some good, that's what it's all about for me," says Norm.
Norm and Kaye believe there is more to driving the car than simply providing a taxi service. "Some patients will discuss their treatment, other patients prefer to simply talk," said Norm. "Having a friendly kind face to greet you before and after makes a big difference. It makes the service very personal, which the patients really appreciate." Kaye says "It's a really rewarding job, I love it".
The Leukaemia Foundation transported and housed 120 families in the Central Coast in 2007. The Courtesy service is a convenient and reliable program that assists with accommodation, transport and education as well as providing emotional support to people diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related blood disorder.
The demand on this service in the Gosford and Wyong area is growing rapidly, resulting in an urgent need for volunteer drivers.
Leukaemia Foundation's General Manager, Stuart Allen, said the transport program is a vital service for patients and families living with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders.
"During treatment, patients' immune systems are severely weakened so catching public transport can be dangerous due to the high risk of infection. They may feel weak from treatments or anaemia. Our courtesy transport system ensures patients get to and from treatment safely and comfortably", said Mr Allen. "During chemotherapy treatment, some patients may have to go to and from hospital for treatment three times a week". "Knowing they have safe, courtesy transport allows our patients to focus on what's most important - getting well," said Mr Allen.
The service not only offers convenience, it also relieves pressure on families and carers and takes away the burden of the potentially enormous expense of taxi fares and hospital parking.
Becoming a volunteer driver is ideal for anyone who has retired or works part time - the commitment can be large or small. Drivers like Norm consider it a very rewarding experience, as they are not just a driver but also a friendly face to talk to. In NSW, similar transport programs operate in the Northern Rivers area, in Sydney metro and western Sydney, in the Illawarra, Hunter Valley and in the ACT.
Every hour, someone is diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma and every two hours, someone loses their life to these diseases. The Leukaemia Foundation raises funds towards vital research into the causes of leukaemia and improved methods of diagnosing and treating the disease. The Foundation is the only national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the care and cure of patients and families living with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders.
The Leukaemia Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that provides support for people with Leukaemia and other related blood disorders, while funding research into better treatments and cures. In addition to transport, the Foundation provides education programs, emotional support, information, accommodation and in some cases practical assistance. For more information on the Leukaemia Foundation and its services visit www.leukaemia.org.au
The Foundation also holds events such as the World's Greatest Shave (March 2008) raising funds that go towards vital research into the causes of leukaemia and improved methods of diagnosing and treating the disease. For further information on the World's Greatest Shave go to www.worldsgreatestshave.com
The Centre
for Volunteering [ABN 28 002 416 024]
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
T: 02 9261 3600 | F: 02 9261 4033 | E: info@volunteering.com.au
www.volunteering.com.au