Lori Labonte, a director with the Road to Hope Foundation, said the decision was not an easy one to make because the appointments are critical to saving lives, but due to social distancing limitations because of the coronavirus pandemic, they were forced to temporarily suspend service.
“We know what it means to our clients to get to these appointments and we don't take this decision lightly at all,” Labonte said. “It is for our safety and theirs and we're not going away. We're waiting in the background, waiting in the wings until it's safe to do so.”
For transportation coordinator Madena Reimer it’s particularly difficult as she talks to every client and every driver and gets to know them all.
"Ten years, this is what we've been doing,” Reimer said, obviously holding back emotions. “This is what we say we're doing, this what we operate for; to help those (with cancer) and then when you're not there you can't help them.”
Patients will now have to rely on friends and family to take them to their appointments, which is also causing worry for Reimer as there are clients who are alone and have no one else to take them.
“We have gentleman – a couple of them – that live out in the middle of nowhere on an acreage by themselves; no family, no friends,” she said. “How do I go to sleep at night knowing that they don't have rides to go to the Cross (Cancer Clinic)?”
Reimer will stay in contact with clients though, as that is her nature. Anyone who knows her, knows her heart is all about helping others, whether it’s through Road to Hope or helping her daughter hand out bags of food at the start of the pandemic.
“To me, it's not a job; it's about the human connection,” Reimer said. “It's about how my heart thinks about them and reaches out to them and cares about them and they're not numbers in a book. They're people and they have a story and they all matter to me.”
Labonte and Reimer both hope people will step up on their own to fill in the gap and stressed that Road to Hope will resume as soon as possible.
“Our hearts are with them and we look forward to being able to get back to normal,” Labonte said.
It's important to the Road to Hope Foundation that everyone who volunteers and contributes to them knows how much they are appreciated.
“We need to include a huge thank you out to all our volunteer drivers, everyone who volunteers their time, hard earned money, and our incredible board all made up of volunteers,” Labonte emphasized. “We are headed for most likely higher demand in our services and are forever grateful for all the love and support so far.”
Heather Stocking, TownandCountryToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @HLSox
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