GRANDVILLE, Mich. – Each day thousands of people need a ride to their cancer treatments, but according to the American Cancer Society, many of them are stranded without a way to get to the treatments they need.
American Cancer Society’s program called Road to Recoverydrives patients in need of transportation to their appointments, but they need drivers in the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo areas.
Dave VanZytveld has walked down the road to recovery and beat cancer twice, now he is driving it.
Less than a year after being told he was cancer free, Dave volunteered as a Road to Recovery driver.
"Cancer does not mean death,” said Dave. “I mean that's what you first think, life is over, but that is not the case: like with Marcy and all the great things she does to help others, even though she's hurting with cancer."
Seventeen years later, he is the guy people like Marcy Bartels depend on.
“I have to drive to the grocery store and stuff like that, and that's really hard on me, so it's a real gift to have somebody that you can count on."
In 2007, Marcy was diagnosed with stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer.
"They didn't give me this long to live so I feel blessed that way,” said Marcy. "You can't concentrate on things like, ‘well they gave you this amount of time,’ because really you never know."
Now sitting in front of her mother's handmade blanket, Marcy is the one knitting quilts for others through Love Inc., and then learning to make elaborate cards for loved ones.
But Marcy said she can do the things she loves for others because volunteers like Dave do the same for her.
"It's just nice to have good people that you can count on,” said Marcy.
If you would like to volunteer and drive, or if you are in need of rides to get to and from your cancer treatments, call Road to Recoveryat 1 (800) 227-2345.
