When Don Terman and his wife Carol were looking for a way to pass their good fortune on to others through volunteering, the Indiana residents knew they had found the right opportunity when they saw an advertisement requesting volunteer drivers for their area’s Road to Recovery program.

The American Cancer Society service program provides transportation for cancer patients to their treatments and home again. Northeast Indiana has had a Road program for nearly 10 years, serving Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells, and Whitley counties. Road to Recovery offers volunteers a flexible way to give back.

"We’ve gotten a lot of satisfaction out of it and have met a lot of really nice people that we otherwise would never have gotten to know," said Don, who has been a Road to Recovery volunteer for nearly five years.

Road to Recovery volunteers provide an essential service because even the greatest medical advance is useless if patients can’t get to treatment. When a young Amish girl in the community needed cancer treatment in Indianapolis, ACS Community Program Representative Debby Pontecorvo started looking for a volunteer that would be willing to fill the unique transportation need.

"The parents and grandparents wanted to go with her to her treatment in Indianapolis, which is about a two-hour drive," explained Debby. "I called [Don] and one of the first things he said was, ’That’s not a problem because I have a van.’"

Don has given rides to many people from Allen and Whitley Counties who needed treatment in Indianapolis, going above and beyond the call of duty to provide his community with reliable transportation. To recognize his commitment to the ACS mission, Debby nominated him for the Heart of Gold award through the Whitley County Community Foundation. Don was one of 50 citizens presented with the award during the 13th Annual Heart of Gold Award ceremony on April 24.

"This was an exciting evening for me as this was the first time I have met Don and his wife Carol," said Debby. "They have given so much to the Road to Recovery program." ACS also presented Don and Carol with a Star later that evening in recognition of their volunteer work.

"It just makes you feel good to be of service to someone else," said Don, who plans to keep providing hope and rides for as long as he is able. "We’re really glad that we got involved."

Being a Road to Recovery volunteer only requires a safe driving record, a valid driver’s license, some free time, a vehicle in good working condition, and the desire to help.

"Volunteers truly do make a difference in a cancer patient’s life," said Debby. If you would like to become a Road to Recovery volunteer, please call your local American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.

If you are in need of transportation, volunteers are ready to drive you. To find a Road to Recovery program in your area, call us toll-free at 1-800-ACS-2345.