25.2 C
Castlegar

Canadian Cancer Society providing travel coverage for Kootenay patients

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.


Be the first to know! Don’t miss out on breaking news and daily updates in your area. Sign up to MyKootenayNow News Alerts.

Continue Reading

cjat Now playing play

  • The Offspring: Why Don't You Get A Job
    20:54
    Why Don't You Get A Job
    The Offspring

ckqr Now playing play

  • Audioslave: I Am The Highway
    20:52
    I Am The Highway
    Audioslave
- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Adam Bremner-Akins joins B.C. Greens leadership slate

The B.C. Greens have announced Adam Bremner-Akins from Port Coquitlam as the third and final candidate in the party’s leadership race.

Updated: RDKB activates emergency operations centre

Local fire services are still awaiting information on a fire burning south of the border, near North Point in the state of Washington.

Drought and strong winds challenging firefighters in B.C.’s northeast

The B.C. Wildfire Service has warned today's strong winds expected across much of the province could lead to more extreme wildfire activity.

Two fruitvale men facing charges in relation to separate crashes

Two Fruitvale drivers are facing charges in connection to two separate collisions over the weekend. 

Website refresh surfaces more of your important local stories

Regular visitors to this website will have noticed some changes to the home page and other templates in recent days.
- Advertisement -