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Take THAT, Cancer! Free Rides Expanded

PhillyPatientRide has been such a success, it's now a permanent program

On Jan. 1st, PhillyCarShare launched a pilot program that offered Philly cancer patients free rides to their hospital appointments. The goal was to recruit 100 drivers, using CarShare vehicles, to transport patients two and from treatment.  The 10-week pilot program, called PhillyPatientRide, was to be coordinated by PhillyCarShare and the American Cancer Society and funded by four Philly hospitals: Hahnemann, Temple, Jefferson and Penn.

Five months later, PhillyPatientRide has been such a boffo success, a fifth hospital - Pennsylvania - has been added and the program will now be permanently funded by the American Cancer Society.

PhillyCarShare's Gerald Furgione tells me that, as of today:

  1. 1,000 rides have been fulfilled

  2. 111 volunteer drivers have been trained and are ready to drive (interestingly, about 50%  are university students)

  3. 202 additional individuals have inquired about the volunteer opportunity

  4. 100% of patients served by PhillyPatientRide said that they would recommend the program to other patients

Hats off, PhillyCarShare, for an outside-the-box idea whose time was way overdue.

For info about the program or to volunteer, contact Natasha Boothman info@phillypatientride.org .

To inquire about a ride, contact Jamie.McCann@cancer.org