Great Community Transport has been providing special care small group transport for frail elderly and people with disabilities in the Blue Mountains and Penrith for 23 years.

In response to community needs, in 2003 the organisation started a new service for people with cancer.

A dedicated oncology transport vehicle — ‘Barb’s Buggy’ — was purchased from fund-raising efforts, named after Barbara Jarvis, a long-serving volunteer who died of cancer.

Since the service first began, Barb’s Buggy has travelled more than 146,000 km, and is now due to retire.

According to Great Community Transport manager Helen Walker, the service has been vital to many local people.

“There are so many people needing this service here. We have a lot of requests,” Helen said.

“In a 12 month period there were 58 people using the service 746 times, travelling a total of 41,756 km.”

The service receives no funding from the government, relying entirely on sponsors, volunteers and fund-raising efforts.

“This organisation is unique because it is self-funded. All of our drivers are volunteers. Without them and our sponsors, including Sensis and Springwood Rotary, we couldn’t run this service,” Helen said.

“There is an overwhelming need for community transport providers across the entire State, and the NSW government is struggling to cope with demands. . . Community transport providers in NSW are unable to fulfil 90,000 requests from transport to health services each years, and cancer patients are particularly disadvantaged.

“It is hard for cancer patients from the Blue Mountains area who often need to travel daily for six weeks to receive radiology from Nepean Nepean Hospital in Kingswood.”

To keep this vital service on the road, Great Community Transport will be running more fund-raising activities in the coming months.

“You name it, we are working hard,” Great Community Transport board of management secretary Maureen Robinson said.

To donate, or to volunteer as a driver, contact Great Community Transport on 4759-2403.