Natalie Wright — Burnaby resident
Seeing the Weight Come Off

Natalie was looking for somewhere to volunteer when she found Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society. She had always volunteered, but after moving cities, she hadn’t yet found the right place to give her time.

Her mom heard a Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society radio ad and suggested she learn more. Around the same time, Natalie had completed some emergency medical response training and heard paramedics talk about sometimes feeling like “taxi drivers.” Rather than just hearing the complaint, Natalie started thinking about the transportation gap underneath it. People still need a safe, reliable way to get to their care, even when they don’t need an ambulance.

That drew her to Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society. Her first few rides quickly showed her that there is no such thing as a typical patient.

“Some people wanted to sit up front and chat like a friend picking them up for any outing, some wanted a completely quiet ride in the back, some were rushing me along, others needing to move very slowly.”

She learned to be adaptable and, perhaps more importantly, to let the patient set the tone. That lesson has stayed with her.

“To be patient. There is no one way people react to what they are going through. You can’t fix things for people but giving them the time to feel secure that you understand what they need is a kindness.”

Moments That Stay With You

One of Natalie’s favourite memories came during an otherwise long and tiring drive. After a lengthy appointment, heavy traffic and construction, she and her client were sitting quietly at a light when they noticed a woman resting her eyes at a bus stop.

A man walking a large dog passed by, and for reasons only the dog understood, it decided the woman was there waiting to play. One enormous bark later, the woman jumped, and Natalie and her client couldn’t help but laugh.

“It really ended the drive on a happy note, and I could have sworn the dog did it just to cheer her up.”

It was a small, unexpected moment that brought some lightness to a long day.

More Than Just a Ride

Natalie doesn’t see Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society as “Uber for cancer patients.” She sees it as being part of a patient’s support network.

A patient once told Natalie how grateful she was that Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society was made up of people who already understood what she was going through.

“I think that’s the difference it makes for her. I think it makes it a much less lonely thing.”

For Natalie, that sense of understanding is an important part of the support volunteers provide. Whether a patient wants conversation, quiet or simply a little extra time, letting them set the tone can help make the journey feel more comfortable.

Lessons Learned Along the Way

Natalie has also found that the patients have changed the way she sees people outside of Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society.

“I’m sure it has, not in one moment or all at once, but a little at a time, all the time.”

Volunteering has reminded her that we often have no idea what someone else may be carrying.

“It constantly reminds me how much people might have going on in the background that you would never know from looking at them.”

She says it has made her a little slower to assume she understands why someone is behaving the way they are.

What Natalie has learned from patients isn’t something she leaves behind when a drive or shift is over. Their experiences have changed the way she approaches people in everyday life, with more patience, more curiosity and less certainty that she knows what someone else might be carrying.

Helping Make Care Possible

Much of Natalie’s time with Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society is spent coordinating and dispatching, so she’s often one step removed from the actual drive. But she knows the work behind the scenes helps patients get to the care they need.

“When a difficult ride gets filled or a complicated week finally comes together, you know you’ve helped make that care possible.”

One part of her work that is especially meaningful is onboarding new patients. She sees how overwhelming it can be when everything is new, and someone has been handed a stack of brochures and is simply trying to make sense of what comes next.

Sometimes, it’s not the cancer itself that makes people scared. It’s all the things surrounding it. Can I afford to get there? Can I park? Will the bus be late? Will I be late? What happens if I feel sick on the way?

They might sound like small worries, but when everything else feels uncertain, they can feel very big.

Seeing the Weight Come Off

Natalie has learned that she doesn’t have to fix every worry. Sometimes, helping someone understand that they have support is enough to take some of the weight off their shoulders.

“You get to see someone feel better for what the VCDS does. Sometimes it’s interpersonal, someone needs a listening, empathetic ear, a laugh, or just to know they have help, but it really all comes back to seeing some of that weight come off.”

That is what keeps Natalie coming back, even on days when she’s tired or wondering whether she really has room for something else.

“I swear that the clients have a sixth sense for this.”

For anyone thinking about volunteering with Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society but feeling unsure, Natalie’s advice is simple:

“Just try.”

You don’t have to know everything. You don’t have to be able to do it all. You learn, take your cues from people who have been doing it longer, and do your best.

“You aren’t ever alone when you are a part of the VCDS.”

Thank you, Natalie, for helping ease the journey for patients and families, and for all you do with Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society.