Tuesday was a good day for the folks at Illawarra Cancer Carers (ICC).
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Wollongong's 2020 Community Group of the Year took delivery of a new $40,000 van thanks largely to the generosity of the i98FM Illawarra Convoy and its donors.
When picking up the van, ICC president Geoff Failes and long standing member Keith Wilson were also told Ross Transport in Port Kembla was providing storage space for the group to store their many mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs and stair lifters.
Mr Wilson said the Ford Transit van will help transport mobility scooters and wheelchairs to Illawarra patients and also support the market stall fundraisers.
Part of the ICC's service to Illawarra cancer patients includes low cost hire of mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs and stair Lifters.
"We have a small fleet of scooters and wheelchairs, and lease them to patients for one dollar per year plus a small service fee," Mr Wilson said.
Established in 1990, over the past 30 years ICC has has generously donated over $4.4 million for local cancer research and cancer treatment and continues to support cancer patients with a range of services, including patient transport, in hospital patient care and a lymphoedema clinic.
The organization has 200 unpaid volunteers and works from the Illawarra Cancer Care Centre at Wollongong Hospital in a donated room with 100 per cent of funds raised by the group spent within the Illawarra.
"The Illawarra Cancer Carers do amazing work within the community for cancer patients, and local hospitals. We are happy to support them with this new vehicle," Convoy manager Mark Rigby said.
Convoy also supported ICC earlier this year with a $54,000 donation to operate its patient transport program.
"Like the Convoy, Cancer Carers rely on the support of many volunteers to achieve their mission: To provide essential physical resources, emotional and research support to obtain a better caring environment for cancer patients in the Illawarra," Mr Failes said.
"We're all volunteers here, with a passion for helping others who are in difficult situations If you share that passion too, and would like to get involved, information and contact numbers can be found on the http://illawarracancercarers.org.au/ website."
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Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
