The Canadian Cancer Society has expanded its travel grants to give Kootenay residents more coverage for travel expenses through free accommodations.
Funding from the B.C. government has allowed the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) to expand its Cancer Travel and Accommodation Services (CTAAS) to more communities across the province.
“We provide financial grants for people who have to travel outside of their community for cancer care and treatment. We also have our Wheels of Hope program, which has volunteer drivers to take people to appointments,” said Carolyn Knox, CCS Senior Director for Access to Care.
“We have now expanded our service in our lodges in B.C. so accommodation and meals are free for cancer patients in our lodges. We have lodges in Prince George, Kelowna, Vancouver and Victoria.”
Knox says the average travel reimbursement grant is about $2,000 per patient.
Since its launch in 2023, the CTAAS has supported over 3,000 British Columbians, including 119 East Kootenay residents in 2024.
“When someone receives a cancer diagnosis, it’s life-changing, startling and it will have a huge impact on them. One thing we don’t want people to worry about is logistics,” said Knox.
“We don’t want anyone in B.C. to think twice about treatment because of the affordability. We want people to reach out to us for help rather than sit in isolation and have to figure things out for themselves.”
The CCS partners with Hope Air and Angel Flight East Kootenay to provide free air travel to patients seeking cancer care.
More information and access to CCS programs for families, caregivers and cancer patients can be found here or by calling 1-888-939-3333.
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