Dawn Bejarano | Chilliwack

Some people choose to volunteer. Others arrive there through life-changing moments. For Dawn, it was both.

In 2021, her husband was diagnosed with cancer. In 2022, Dawn received her own diagnosis. Together, they faced appointments, treatments, and uncertainty side by side. They drove each other, supported each other, and found a way forward, even on the hardest days.

“We were so blessed. We were always able to get to our appointments.”

After her husband passed, Dawn was left not only with grief, but with perspective. She began to think about others going through cancer and what happens when they do not have someone to drive them, sit beside them, or help steady the moment.

“I realized there are so many people who don’t have that.”

So she stepped forward.

Since the fall of 2023, Dawn has been a volunteer driver with the Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society, offering something that goes far beyond transportation. She offers calm in moments of worry, reassurance when someone feels overwhelmed, and a steady, kind presence when it matters most.

“Sometimes when I call, patients are flustered or anxious about their appointments. It’s nice to be able to tell them, it’s going to be okay. I’m here.”

And then there are the moments that stay with her. When a patient reaches out months later to say they are cancer-free. When fear turns into relief. When a difficult chapter comes to a close. Dawn carries those moments with her.

Her advice to others is simple, but it comes from a place of deep understanding:

“Always be cheerful, empathetic, and kind. No matter what is going on in your life, it is not as bad as what they are going through.”

It’s not about comparison. It’s about compassion.

Outside of volunteering, Dawn finds joy in gardening, reading, travelling, cooking, and bringing people together. Even there, you can see her instinct to care, create comfort, and show up for others.

When asked to describe her experience, she chose three words: satisfying, hopeful, and rewarding.

But what she gives is something even more meaningful than that.

“It’s nice knowing that we can bring a little comfort to someone’s life during a very difficult time.”

And sometimes, that little bit of comfort means everything.

From all of us at VCDS, thank you, Dawn, for the compassion, care, and quiet strength you bring to every drive. Your kindness is felt in ways that truly matter.