Diane Smith, 71, doesn't know her way around the Charleston area very well. Since she moved to the outskirts of St. Albans in 2006 after living in Florida for more than 30 years, she's mostly kept to herself. Smith lives alone on a fixed income.
Smith recently began six weeks of radiation treatment for breast cancer. When she discovered she would have to take five trips a week to Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston, she didn't think it would be possible.
On top of the unfamiliar location, Smith said that she was worried about driving immediately after radiation treatments, which tend to leave her feeling tired and weak.
"I said, 'If I can't get some kind of help, that would be it. Either try to get some help, or I can't take them,'" she said.
But then Smith heard about Road to Recovery, a program offered by the American Cancer Society that gives free rides to appointments for cancer patients. Patients usually take advantage of the service when they're unable to make it to appointments on their own and family and friends aren't available to help.
Smith planned to take her first Road to Recovery ride on Aug. 8. She said the local program is doing all it can to accommodate her throughout the six-week treatment and that it's a "godsend" for her.
Because of Road to Recovery, Smith won't have to miss her treatments.
"It helps out so many people that can't afford it or can't [drive]," she said. "Otherwise, people would probably end up dying."
While Road to Recovery provides an invaluable service to cancer patients like Smith, it wouldn't be possible without drivers willing to donate their time. To find a volunteer, patients call a phone number and are referred to a local driver in their area.
Bob Fisher is one of those local drivers. He's driven in Kanawha County for around two and a half years now. After retiring, Fisher wanted to give back to his community.
When he looked for a perfect volunteer opportunity, Fisher was overwhelmed. With the plethora of programs searching for volunteers at all times, he wanted to do something where he could "make a little difference."
"I knew I couldn't do anything about the big picture," Fisher said. "But if I concentrated all my efforts in a twenty-mile radius, what could I do to make the world a little better place?"
Fisher said that, unlike many volunteer programs, Road to Recovery stuck out to him as a unique opportunity that gives volunteers one-on-one time with the people they're helping. After completing a background check and training, he was approved to drive. Now, Fisher is one of the program's regulars.
"Every second you do something, you're one-on-one with someone who needs it," he said. "When you get a call, it's 100 percent need."
Flexibility is the key to Road to Recovery, Fisher said. You may get a call for 10 days straight or you may go three weeks without hearing from someone. The organization aims to give three days notice for all appointments, but there are emergency situations from time to time.
Right now, the organization is on the lookout for new volunteers, hoping to build up their base and offer more flexibility. To become a volunteer, you must complete the American Cancer Society training course and have a safe and reliable vehicle along with a good driving record.
In Fisher's eyes, the program is perfect for retirees looking to help out locally or college students searching for community service hours during the summer.
And for cancer patients like Smith, Road to Recovery and the treatments they'll be receiving because of the program means they can spend more time with the ones they love. For Smith, that's her 1-year-old dachshund-mix, recently gifted to her by a neighbor.
"She keeps me busy," Smith said. "I just can't play with her as much. I tell her 'Honey, I just don't got the get-up-and-go that you do.'"
Those interested in becoming a Road to Recovery driver can read more and access a signup form at: cancer.org/involved/volunteer/road-to- recovery-volunteers.