A volunteer service providing crucial support to cancer patients in London is desperately seeking drivers. Wheels of Hope provides rides to and from doctor and hospital appointments. Ron Den Hollander, a long-time supporter, has been a driver for the Wheels of Hope program for three years.
For Ron, giving back is personal - cancer took his mother and father, and it didn’t stop there. “19 years ago, my youngest son Andrew was diagnosed with leukemia," Ron shared emotionally with CTV News London. "And then 14 years ago, my daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
” While not all Wheels of Hope drivers have been touched by cancer, they’ve all benefitted from the bond formed between themselves and cancer fighters. On Wednesday, Ron picked up Robert Kirkup at his London home. Robert recently lost an eye to cancer after it spread from his forehead.
With his wife also in a cancer fight, rides to treatments have been helpful. Ron Den Hollander a driver for the Wheels of Hope program stands with client Robert Kirkup. Kirkup is recovering from surgery to remove his eye after a battle with cancer.
(Sean Irvine/CTV News London) “My wife is a busy lady. So, I would say very crucial.” Still, there are not enough people like Den Hollander coming forward to help patients like Kirkup.
38 people volunteer with Wheels of Hope in London and the surrounding area. That’s at least 15 people fewer than needed. Sometimes Den Hollander said drivers can't make up the shortfall.
“Becau.