‘It’s a great feeling knowing people don’t have to be anxious about getting to their appointment’

A Dunshaughlin man says he decided to become a volunteer driving for the Irish Cancer Society to be "a support" to local people going through cancer treatment.

When Brian Croke retired from a demanding job travelling around Europe as a Business System Analyst in 2019, he wanted to take on something that would fill his time while also giving back to the community.

The Volunteer Driver Service helps to ease the strain of travel on cancer patients, who often find it hard to get to hospital because of transportation costs or they might not be feeling well enough to drive themselves because of their treatment.

Last year, the service provided 735 journeys for cancer patients in Meath and just under 12,000 journeys throughout Ireland.

Speaking about the importance of lending a hand to people in the community when they are at their most vulnerable, Brian said:

"I retired at the end of 2019 and I was aware of the volunteer driving service, a friend I play golf with was a driver and I thought why can't I give a day a week or day a fortnight to do it?

"It was a case of trying to help and just giving a bit of support to clients going to their appointments.

"I've lived in Dunshaughlin 25 years and I've had a client lately that I've gotten to know now because I've brought her for appointments four or five times and I didn't really know her and she lived the other side of the village. So I think it's being a part of the community to help and support people.

"I like to talk with people and I think I'm a decent listener, I've met a lot of different people and unfortunately they all have the same issue, they have cancer of some kind and they all need to go in for their treatment.

"I get a great feeling from the fact I pick somebody up from their home and they don't have to be anxious about getting to their appointment, they know they are getting a lift in and a lift home, that's important that they feel comfortable and a bit more at ease."

As part of becoming a volunteer, Brian had to undertake a training programme learning everything from how to communicate sensitively with the client to Covid safety procedures as he explains:

"I live in Dunshaughlin and I look at the journeys that are required at that particular time, they are listed every night and you get 48 or 72 hours notice. I look for journeys in Ratoath, Dunsany, Drumree, Kilmessan and Dunshaughlin and if there are any on that I can volunteer for it.

"I have had the same clients a few times and you get to know the people and a nice relationship can build up and that makes it easier for them going for their appointment.

"You know if the person wants to talk or doesn't want to talk, it is all confidential as well. I go by that if someone wants to talk they will start talking to me."

"You need to be able to set aside a day, so if you have a day to spare and you enjoy talking and listening to people, it's a lovely feeling to know that you can be a support to someone going for an appointment for treatment."

The Irish Cancer Society is currently in urgent need of Volunteer Drivers to provide transport for cancer patients to and from their hospital chemotherapy treatments.

Volunteers need to be available for two full week days each month, have a roadworthy car, a valid driving license, insurance and NCT. The service is completely free for patients, and volunteers receive money from the Irish Cancer Society to pay for their fuel costs, road tolls and an allowance for food while waiting for the patient.

Irish Cancer Society Director of Services Donal Buggy said: “Now more than ever in Meath we urgently need to recruit more Volunteer Drivers so we can continue to provide this incredibly important service to anyone who might need it, so we are encouraging anyone who may meet the requirements to volunteer, to please get in touch with us.”

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