The Canadian Cancer Society of Sarnia-Lambton wants you to fill a piggy bank with change this holiday season to change the lives of many cancer patients.
The local organization recently launched the third annual Pigs of Hope adoption initiative in support of Wheels of Hope, a transportation program, which takes cancer patients to and from appointments.
Spokesperson Paula McKinlay said, unfortunately, around one in five cancer patients in Ontario still can't get to their appointments.
"That means that there are people out there that are still having to make the choice if they go to treatment or not, and that's a horrible, sickening feeling when, you know what, the more we fundraise the more availability and drivers that we have out there that can ensure they get to their life-saving treatment."
McKinlay said Wheels of Hope allows patients to focus on their cancer journey and getting well.
She said in 2018, 45 volunteer drivers provided 115 Sarnia-Lambton cancer patients with 2,313 rides to and from their cancer-related appointments, driving more than 204,000 kilometres in the process.
"If their chemo is in Sarnia and they live in Grand Bend, then we make sure they get to Sarnia and home again. If their appointment is in with some of the specialties in Hamilton or Toronto, then away we go. Our drivers are willing and able to get them where they need to go."
Businesses or families can adopt a pink or blue piggy bank at the Sarnia office at 556 Christina St. N -- a total of 300 pigs are available.
McKinlay said every $50 raised will cover the cost of transporting a patient to an appointment, that a cancer patient typically rides with them 10 to 17 times, costing $500 to $850 per client, and that last year, the Sarnia-Lambton office invested $62,000 to maintain the program.
Shell Canada kicked off this year's campaign by donating $8,000. Last year's campaign raised over $19,000.
