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Pyke: Cancer charity 'desperately' needs drivers for patients

Robin Madsen is fighting back against breast cancer and, as of Wednesday, "feeling pretty good." But the last thing she wants to do is drive back and forth to chemotherapy.

Enter Mike Wasinger.

It's 7:30 a.m., June 20. A sleek, silver Nissan Maxima pulls up outside Madsen's Elgin home with Wasinger at the wheel. The American Cancer Society volunteer is in plenty of time to give her a comfy ride to Presence Saint Joseph Hospital.

For hundreds of people with cancer across Chicago and the suburbs, volunteer drivers like Wasinger can make a life-or-death difference.

But now about half the calls for help can't be met because "we desperately need more drivers," said American Cancer Society spokeswoman Amy Jo Steinbruecker.

The shortage is particularly high in Cook County.

"Cook County is always an area that's challenging to recruit enough drivers," said Trish Pangilinan, a senior director with the society's Lakeshore Division covering Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. "Part of it has to do with its size and also, quite frankly, there's a lot of great places (for treatment)."

About 20 percent of cancer patients in the U.S. either cancel or delay treatment because they lack transportation to reach their appointments or can't afford taxis or transit. Sometimes treatments can take weeks, and family or friends aren't always available to assist.

"I wouldn't want to drive in the condition I'm in," Madsen said. "I'm really weak and this ride is important to me."

Wasinger, also of Elgin, retired from teaching in 2015 and wanted to pay it forward in his spare time. His parents both died of cancer, first his father and then his mother a year ago.

"I want people to have a chance," Wasinger said. "I can't imagine people not going to treatment just because they don't have a ride."

What does driving patients for the society's Road to Recovery program entail? If you possess a safe and reliable car and a clean driving record, the commitment can be as little or as much as you wish.

After screening and training, volunteers can create a profile online that specifies times they are available and preferred geographic area. Drivers will be matched with patients based on the profile and can accept or turn down assignments.

"You're completely free to pick and choose," driver Carla Neale of Schaumburg said. "It's extremely easy for the volunteers to handle."

Neale has been called an "angel," and offered lunch, dinner and free gas (which she declined) and Reese's Pieces (which she ate).

"People are so grateful, it makes you feel good to do something to help someone else. There but for the grace of God, go I," Neale said.

In 2015, 290 cancer patients received 4,921 rides from 247 drivers in metropolitan Chicago. Currently, 48 percent of requests aren't fulfilled in the three-state region, Steinbruecker said.

If passengers want to talk like his mom did, Wasinger talks. If they want to be silent, like his dad, he'll comply.

And with Madsen, Wasinger laughs. Would you drive me again? she asked after their first trip.

It's not me you want, Wasinger said, jokingly. "It's because of the new car."

To learn more, call (800) 227-2345 or go to cancer.org/involved/volunteer/road-to-recovery-volunteers.

<h3 class="leadin">Your voice</h3>

At 12:01 a.m. July 5, the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway/Route 390 becomes a toll road riling many folks, among them Don Bunce of Arlington Heights who objects to the absence of collection buckets.

"You think this is consumer-friendly?" he asked. "For example, on the Tri-State Tollway's Balmoral Avenue exit, it only accepts I-PASS. So what does one do? Get off at another exit that has coin boxes or attendants? Unfortunately, this is the trend. Cut costs whether it's inconvenient or not to the consumer. Make them buy the technology so they can make more money.

The tactics are not surprising I guess. After all, weren't they supposed to be freeways when the original bonds were paid off?"

Got a comment on this column or transportation questions? Drop me an email at mpyke@dailyherald.com.

<h3 class="leadin">Gridlock alert</h3>

Metra is repairing the railroad crossing at York Road in Bensenville, meaning big-time traffic now through July 2. York Road will be closed between Green Street and Irving Park Road. Detours on Addison Street are posted.

Good state of teen driving: Illinois has its problems, but at least the climate for teen drivers is positive. A WalletHub study listed Illinois as third-best in the nation for teenagers in terms of safety. The state's honors were: first for teen distracted driving and texting laws; first for graduated driver's license laws; and second for the lowest number of adolescent DUIs.
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