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.
“Because sometimes their patients have to make short notice calls, and we just don't have enough drivers to cover the area. I’ve had people tell me they need to take a cab.” It is a reality Kirkup never wants to see anyone else encounter, so he is reminding potential drivers that cancer touches everyone.
“They never know when they’re going to have problems in their own families.” There is no question, Kirkup and Den Hollander are an example of the cruel reach of cancer, but they are also a sample of the bond formed between a driver and a patient. “Lots of times we're laughing on the way there.
So, we're trying to distract them. Yes, they know where they're going, but we're trying to be a distraction. We're trying to be someone they can talk about anything to.
” You can learn more about driving for Wheels of Hope or by telephoning 1-888-939-3333. Last year, Wheels of Hope provided nearly 3,000 rides and covered over 130,000 kilometres of roads in the London region. London Top Stories One dead following Lambton County crash $10-million lawsuit filed against Fanshawe College Region's newest employer builds industrial plant out of the same product it will manufacture Description released of suspect wanted in relation to arson Help Londoners beat cancer by volunteering as a driver UNIFOR and GM reach tentative deal in Ingersoll Pets stolen in break and enter returned to owner Rogers Communications to buy out Bell's share of MLSE for $4.
7 billion CTVNews.ca Top Stories Bloc MPs will vote confidence in Liberal government next week: Blanchet The Conservatives' first shot at toppling the Liberal government is likely doomed to fail, after Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet told reporters his MPs will vote confidence in the government. RCMP feared they didn't have enough evidence to hold terror suspect sought by U.
S. Court documents filed in the case of a Pakistani man arrested in Quebec for an alleged plot to kill Jews in New York City reveal the RCMP didn't have enough evidence to hold him in Canada. Here's why you should get all your vaccines as soon as possible With all these shots, some Canadians may have questions about the benefit of each vaccine, whether they should get every shot and how often to get them, and if it's safe to get them all at once or if they should space them out.
Teen faces new charge in Sask. high school arson attack A 14-year-old student who allegedly set her classmate on fire is facing a new charge. 'I'm here for the Porsche': Video shows brazen car theft in Mississauga Video of a brazen daylight auto theft which shows a suspect running over a victim in a stolen luxury SUV has been released by police west of Toronto.
DEVELOPING | Exploding electronic devices kill 20, wound 450 in second day of explosions in Lebanon Lebanon's health ministry said Wednesday that at least 20 people were killed and 450 others wounded by exploding electronic devices in multiple regions of the country. The explosions came a day after an apparent Israeli attack targeting pagers used by Hezbollah killed at least 12 and wounded nearly 3,000. Here are the latest updates.
Royal Canadian Mint's new toonie commemorates 100th anniversary of Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Mint unveiled in Winnipeg a new toonie, which began circulating Wednesday, highlighting the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Second judge denies bail to Sean 'Diddy' Combs Lawyers for Sean "Diddy Combs asked a judge Wednesday to let him await his sex trafficking trial at his luxury home on an island near Miami Beach, rather than a grim federal jail in Brooklyn. Federal government to further limit number of international students The federal government will be further limiting the number of international students permitted to enter Canada next year.
It’s the government’s latest immigration-related measure to address Canadians' ongoing housing and affordability concerns. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.
Read about us. Editor's Picks These Silk & Snow Sheets Stopped Me And My Partner from Arguing Over Bedding (And They're On Sale Right Now) 14 Products That'll Help You Live Your Best, Coziest Life This Fall School Has Officially Begun, And Here Are A Few Essential Supplies That Won't Break The Bank Home 14 Pieces Of Fall Decor That’ll Give Your Home Autumnal Vibes These Smart Cleaning Products Will Make Doing Your Chores Way Easier Our Guide To The Best Smart Thermostats In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Gifts 15 Of The Best Birthday Gifts To Give This Month 18 Top-Notch Presents And Gift Add-Ons That Anyone Would Love To Receive 15 Of The Best Gifts To Give A One-Year-Old For Their First Birthday Beauty The Best Gels, Pomades, and Waxes That'll Keep Your Hair In Place These Beauty And Skincare Products Will Help You Create A Flawless Base These 12 Setting Sprays Will Actually Keep Your Makeup From Budging Deals From Wayfair To Walmart: Here Are The Best Deals You'll Find Online This Weekend From Anthropologie To Amazon: Here Are The Best Deals You'll Find Online This Weekend Beauty Week Has Officially Begun On Amazon Canada — Here Are The Best Deals You Can Find Kitchener Three missing people from Kitchener haven't been seen since Sept. 1 Kitchener, Ont.
school gets hundreds of solar panels installed on its roof Ontario police arrest 2 suspects, search for 3 others in door-to-door-sales fraud Barrie Brides and vendors claim they were ripped off by Barrie photographer Grey County ticket wins half the record-breaking Lotto Max jackpot Two people dead after shooting in Keswick park Windsor Police seek suspects after $64,000 bank fraud High schoolers restore local history Pedestrian in ICU after getting struck by vehicle Northern Ontario Collision closes Hwy. 101 between Foleyet and Hwy. 144 in northern Ont.
One person dead following North Bay industrial incident Sudbury pet rescue frustrated by latest break-in at thrift store Sault Ste. Marie One person dead following North Bay industrial incident Car trouble in northern Ontario results in drug bust Sault man charged with threating victim with a hammer Ottawa Forensic identification officer testifies at Ayoub trial Woman missing, man rescued on Ottawa River after going out in a kayak 10-minute headways on off-peak LRT service will be maintained as OC Transpo studies fall ridership Toronto Two people dead after shooting at park north of Toronto: YRP Rogers Communications to buy out Bell's share of MLSE for $4.7 billion 'I'm here for the Porsche': Video shows brazen car theft in Mississauga Montreal Quebec woman charged with first-degree murder in death of five-year-old boy Black Lives Ruined: Black men asked to sign NDAs to settle racial profiling cases RCMP feared they didn't have enough evidence to hold terror suspect sought by U.
S. Atlantic Transport Canada orders plan to remove huge tidal power moorings left near N.S.
town Police seize weapons, drugs from Nova Scotia residences Maritimes saw hottest temperatures in Canada on Tuesday Winnipeg $300K worth of stolen vehicles seized from Winnipeg compound: police How much rain fell in southern Manitoba over the past few days 'I lived right': Eight centenarians celebrate birthdays at Winnipeg care home Calgary Man charged in relation to Sunday sexual assault of 12-year-old girl in southeast Calgary Winding down of Green Line LRT project 'unfortunate': transportation minister Historic movie theatre that brought the talkies to High River, Alta., in 1929 up for sale Edmonton Man wanted in killing of partner arrested, stolen truck recovered Alberta Premier Smith aims to fund private school construction on par with public Woman enters guilty plea in fire that closed Edmonton's Italian Bakery for 3 years Regina Pestuch pleads guilty in retrial of multi-million dollar investor fraud in Regina Sask. won't take asylum seekers if Ottawa attempts to relocate them Police initiative sees heavier officer presence in Regina's downtown, North Central areas Saskatoon 'I thought I was dead': Man electrocuted, burned at SaskPower hydro dam calls for compensation Teen faces new charge in Sask.
high school arson attack Emily Sanche tried to seek medical help for boyfriend before he fatally stabbed her, court hears Vancouver 'Trove of extraordinary fossils' discovered in northern B.C., museum says YVR tech upgrade means laptops, liquids can stay in luggage during security screening Minimum nurse-patient ratios established at most B.
C. hospitals, says health minister Vancouver Island B.C.
short-term rental restrictions reducing rents, saving tenants millions: study UBCM convention: Two of three special resolutions focussed on housing TransLink converts West Coast Express commuter train to renewable diesel Stay Connected.
