Media release June 2022. It might be small but cancer support network branch Can Assist Nyngan certainly achieves big things. It has recently been given a boost by a donation from greenslips.com.au. This comes at a critical time, particularly after local fundraising was stymied by the pandemic.
Established in 2012, Can Assist Nyngan helps up to 15 people each year. The branch provides practical and financial support to cancer patients in Nyngan and surrounding townships, through fuel cards, registration, car insurances, accommodation, utilities and rates.
The greatest expense Can Assist helps with, by far, is for travel.
“The closest cancer facility is in Dubbo, which is 360km away – a 4-hour round trip,” explains Lynette Webster, President of Can Assist Nyngan. “And if clients have to travel to Sydney for treatment, that’s a very long trip. You need a car when you live out here; everything is about travel, even to go shopping. People depend on their own cars; it provides independence and privacy when you need it most. When you’re having treatment, you don’t want to sit on a bus, so private transport is very important.”
Lynette says the greenslips.com.au donation will have a big impact.
“This is a rural community and there’s a lot of farming – and farmers have done it tough for years because of drought, mice plague and floods. Any assistance is greatly needed, so these funds, which will help pay for patients’ green slips, will be a wonderful help to them and their families. Clients often give up their jobs when going through treatment and they don’t have sick leave or annual leave, so having one less expense is a big relief. It really helps clients’ mental health.”
The greenslips.com.au donation comes at a time when Can Assist Nyngan is helping an increasing number of clients after a lull during the pandemic.
“Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions people could not quite access their oncologist as they would normally have been able to,” explains Lynette.
Bridging city-country divide crucial
What sets Can Assist apart from other charities is that all money raised locally stays in the area to help local cancer patients across the district. The branch is funded entirely by local donations, fundraising events, and corporate support such as greenslips.com.au, a CTP green slip insurance price comparison and information website.
“It is great to know there’s funding from greenslips.com.au and that they have thought of the people in rural and regional NSW who need to travel. It’s such a good feeling,” Lynette says.
Can Assist Nyngan gets a lot of support from the local community, because it’s well known in the area and is well respected, and many locals have been impacted by cancer. The branch undertakes various fundraising activities including an annual high tea and regular street stalls.
However, Lynette is urging more city-based businesses to get on board to help country branches.
“I don’t think many people in the city understand how people in the bush have to travel to access treatment, and the stress that’s involved,” she says. “The cost of cancer is expensive. In a farming community, some of the farmers who have cancer don’t want to leave their farms. People in the country are likely to die earlier because of the burden to travel to treatment.”
She adds that the community is now also faced with the rising cost of living.
“It means our money cannot stretch as far. It has been a terrible time with COVID, and people don’t have the money to go a little further as prices for day-to-day needs keep rising.”
Stephen Treacey, founder and owner of greenslips.com.au adds: “I know firsthand the importance of ensuring someone in rural and regional NSW has a vehicle and can travel to treatment. We’ve seen and heard about the practical and emotional impacts on the people they support, and the timely nature of it.
“We’re proud to support Can Assist’s rural and regional cancer patients with the cost of their green slip. Can Assist’s powerhouse of volunteers and unique fundraising model, with all money raised locally staying local, ensures donations make a tangible impact with those who need it most.”
Greater awareness and support needed
Lynette says greater awareness of Can Assist and the support it provides is also crucial.
“Some people won’t ask for help because they’re too proud, but a little encouragement goes a long way. It’s all confidential, and we urge cancer patients to contact us if they need help,” she says.
in addition to donations, the branch is looking for new volunteers to help with the important work it does.
“Everyone is a volunteer here and to be able to help people and give them that extra support is a wonderful thing,” Lynette says.
Lynette knows personally about the vital support that Can Assist provides. After going through her own cancer journey 10 years ago and staying in a Can Assist-run accommodation facility, she decided to band together with some friends and open a branch in Nyngan.
“It was so wonderful staying in the facility; so many like-minded people who all had cancer. It’s why I decided to establish a branch in Nyngan. I’ve been President ever since, but it’s very much teamwork,” she adds.
For information about donating or volunteering with Can Assist Nyngan, contact 0428 548 617. For further information about how to support Can Assist, visit www.canassist.org.au.
About Can Assist
Since 1955, Can Assist has been helping people living in rural and regional NSW access cancer treatment and care. The community-based grassroots organisation is funded entirely by community fundraising events, donations and corporate sponsorships. With 55 branches and around 3000 volunteers, it is the largest cancer support network in rural, regional and remote NSW.
Can Assist provides financial assistance for accommodation, travel-related costs, pharmaceuticals and other expenses to individuals and families across NSW, who are affected by cancer. Can Assist provides up to $2.5 million in financial aid, and approximately 50% of this aid is for travel and accommodation.
As well as fundraising activities, member volunteers raise awareness of the organisation. They collaborate with health professionals to understand how they can ease the burden of cancer. With Can Assist, 100% of funds raised local is spent in that community. Can Assist also funds Lilier Lodge, a purpose-built accommodation facility in Wagga Wagga it co-owns with Cancer Council NSW, which assists over 1,400 people each year.
We Can Assist.
About greenslips.com.au
Established in 2001, greenslips.com.au is a price comparison and information service for CTP green slip insurance. It does not sell CTP green slip insurance but rather is the authority helping people compare green slips.
greenslips.com.au is a partner of Can Assist and since 2019 has supported Can Assist head office and over 40 branches across NSW. greenslips.com.au has committed to providing further support.
For further information:
Lisa Llewellyn: 0419 401 362 or lisa@llewcom.com.au
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