Collingwood residents with a valid driver’s licence and reliable vehicle are being asked to help local cancer patients get to treatment, according to a Canadian Cancer Society recruitment notice posted to the Collingwood Volunteer Hub on Dec. 12, 2025. Volunteers use their own cars to drive patients from Collingwood and Simcoe County to appointments in Barrie, Toronto or other treatment centres, with mileage costs reimbursed.
Many cancer patients cannot drive themselves due to treatment side effects, and public transit or taxis are often too expensive or unavailable for long trips. Volunteers sign up for shifts that fit their schedules through an online system managed by the Society, making the role flexible for retirees, shift workers and others looking to support neighbours in need.
Applicants must pass a criminal record check with vulnerable sector screening, typically hold a clean driving record (usually three or fewer demerits), and commit to using a smoke-free vehicle. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination (typically two doses) and a willingness to wear masks in the vehicle are required, subject to current Canadian Cancer Society health policies. The Society covers fuel and wear-and-tear through its mileage reimbursement program.
Those interested in volunteering can apply online at www.cancervolunteer.ca by selecting “Wheels of Hope,” or call 1-888-939-3333 for more information. Applications are open now; the time it takes for new volunteers to begin driving varies depending on the completion of required training and screening.
“Through the program, volunteers pick up people and take them to their life-saving treatments,” said Mark Kahan, Recruitment Coordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society. “The need is urgent. Without these drivers, some patients simply have no way to get to the hospital.”
