Meet Debbie a resident of Mission and an inspiring Volunteer Cancer Driver, who brings heart, hope, and humanity to every ride.

 

When she lost her mother to cancer in April 2022, it left a quiet space in her life, but also a calling. Just a few months later, in August, she answered that call after seeing a Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society (VCDS) post on Facebook. “My mom had cancer treatments back in 2020. I was able to be there for her. But I know not every family can,” she shares. “This is a way for me to step in and help when someone else can’t.”

 

Since then, she’s been behind the wheel, driving not just patients, but a sense of comfort and care. “My most memorable experiences happen nearly every time I’m with a patient,” she says. “Their positive, happy attitude during such a hard time in their lives… it inspires me every time. I am so humbled by this.”

 

One patient’s words have stuck with her: “Wishing you a long life… so you may continue to provide us with this service.”

 

For her, this is what it’s all about, making life just a little lighter for someone else.

 

She recently received a message from the daughter of a patient she had driven for nearly a year. He had passed away just two weeks after their last ride together. The family reached out to let her know, and invited her to his celebration of life. “I was deeply touched,” she says quietly. “You don’t always realize the impact you’ve made.”

 

When she’s not volunteering, life is full. She’s retired, with four children and eight grandchildren. She tends a small acreage with chickens, a miniature horse, a donkey, and a garden she loves. Her constant companion? Her beloved dog Benji, who’s often at her side whether she’s enjoying the peace of her rustic Cariboo cabin, visiting her 90-year-old father at a nearby care facility, or simply spending time at home. Benji brings his own kind of comfort and joy, grounding her through the ups and downs of life.

 

Why does she do this? “With very little disruption to my daily life, I can take a huge burden away from someone going through a difficult, vulnerable time. That feels good.”

 

Through this work, she’s gained more than she expected: A greater appreciation for all kinds of people, all sharing the same goal: to live. And to be gracious while doing it.

 

In three words, she sums it up: “Humbled. Grateful. Fulfilled.”