There are a lot of reasons why someone suffering from cancer may need to hitch a ride. Perhaps they don’t have family, or don’t want their family to know. Perhaps they can’t afford cab fare. Or maybe their family just isn’t able to drive them to three solid weeks of aggressive treatment appointments.

“Everyone’s got their own life and job and schedules,” Katrin Moore said.

Either way, many cancer patients end up alone and, about two weeks into chemo treatments, physically unable to drive, Moore says.

But luckily, there is a solution. Moore volunteers as the regional coordinator for a program called Road to Recovery. Road to Recovery is a project of the American Cancer Society that aims to connect patients to volunteer drivers so they never need to miss an appointment.

Moore is looking to get the word out. She took over the reins as regional coordinator in Rowan County in May, but says that since then they’ve only received one call.

“I want people to know that this is available now,” she said.

Moore says she’s also looking for drivers. The more volunteers she has, the more she’s able to work with people’s schedules. And Moore says she’s found it extremely rewarding.

“It just blows you away when you think you’re doing such a simple thing but to them it means the world,” she said.

Moore herself works as a driver in surrounding counties. She says she loves it.

“You never know who you’re gonna run into or what their story is,” she said.

Moore says that the first patient she drove was a psychiatrist who had developed a brain tumor. Once, while driving her to an appointment, the patient said something that shocked Moore.

“She told me she was happy,” Moore said.

Moore said the comment made her pause. This woman had been handed a terrible diagnoses, and was facing it alone — but she was still able to be positive. Moore says she found that incredibly encouraging.

In some ways, Moore thinks that working with Road to Recovery is in her blood. Her grandfather ran a cab company for several years. Moore says he died of cancer two years ago.

“I figured what better way to honor him than to do what he did,” she said.

Cancer patients can call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-277-2345 to arrange a ride. Those interested in volunteering as a driver can visiting the American Cancer Society’s website at www.cancer.org, call the Society at 1-800-277-2345, or contact Katrin Moore at katrinmoore@yahoo.com.