Media release, 11 March 2020: The Cancer Assistance Network branch of Yass Valley has received funding from greenslips.com.au to help pay for cancer patients’ green slip insurance. Cancer patients in need who rely on their car to get to treatment, are encouraged to seek financial assistance from the Can Assist Yass Valley regarding their Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance.
A cancer diagnosis in rural or remote NSW can bring the additional burden of travelling long distances to treatment. Through a partnership with www.greenslips.com.au, Can Assist Yass Valley has received a funding injection to help ease that burden. The comparative CTP insurance site knows the cost of CTP insurance and recognises the benefits of keeping local cancer patients’ cars on the road when they need them most.
“Cancer patients are very dependent on a car for mobility and if the patient or carer hasn’t got a car they are really up against it. You don’t have to be very remote to have a problem with access to cancer treatment,” said Can Assist Yass Valley Branch volunteer Annie Waterhouse.
“We service a lot of villages through to the ACT border, including Bowning, Binalong and Murrumbateman. Every cancer patient has to travel for treatment to Canberra, Goulburn or Sydney however local public transport is complicated and mainly designed for school or business commuters. A car is important to everyone’s independence, especially during a health crisis. Travel can be one of the highest ongoing costs,” said Annie.
Can Assist Yass Valley branch already provide practical and financial support to cancer patients for costs such as medical, pharmaceutical, travel and accommodation. Can Assist Yass Valley supports, on average 50 patients a year. The branch is keen to help patients with payment from www.greenslips.com.au for their CTP green slip insurance.
“Prior to www.greenslips.com.au coming on board we had not paid for patients’ CTP insurance because the costs are so high. This partnership allows us to fund something as significant as a green slip which is a large, unavoidable cost. Cancer patient’s income is often depleted because they cannot work, yet the costs of living are ongoing,” said Can Assist Yass Valley President Geoff Frost.
“Economic times are pretty tough from the drought and cancer is not going away. There are people who really, really struggle and more are approaching Can Assist. In the first six months of this financial year we have provided over $31,000 to 35 individual patients. It’s a bush tradition to help one another, especially with cancer, and it is great that the Yass community through Can Assist stand ready to help,” he said.
Can Assist is a community-based volunteer network, funded entirely by local donations and corporate sponsorship. All money raised locally, stays local. Can Assist Yass Valley invites cancer patients to contact them. It is as simple as calling 0437 973 027. All enquiries and ongoing support are strictly confidential.
For more information on how to support Can Assist, visit www.canasssist.org.au.
Media contacts
Sophie Bartho, sophie@brandswell.com Mobile 0411 191 141
About Can Assist
Can Assist is committed to ensuring that all people, regardless of where they live in NSW, have access to cancer treatment and care. By providing accommodation, financial assistance and practical support to people from rural and regional areas, it ensures country people are given the same opportunities and treatment choices as those who live in city centres.
Can Assist facts
- Can Assist provides practical and financial support to people affected by cancer and living in country NSW.
- Established in 1955, Can Assist is funded entirely by local donations and corporate sponsorships. In 2018, it assisted 7,300 rural and regional cancer patients through 55 branches across NSW.
- Can Assist is a grass roots, community-based volunteer network. It is local volunteers supporting local families affected by cancer.
- All the money raised locally stays local.
- Cancer is expensive, and people in rural and remote communities can suffer reduced income and increased expenses because of a cancer diagnosis. Their position is often exacerbated because treatment may require relocation from home and family support.
- greenslips.com.au is a new partner of Can Assist. Greenslips.com.au is a price comparison and information service for CTP green slip insurance. It does not sell CTP green slip insurance.
- greenslip.com.au has supported Can Assist branches in Orange, Finley, Dubbo, Armidale, Bega, Balranald, Narrabri, Yass, Bathurst, Tumut and Wagga Wagga, with commitments to give further support across NSW.
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