The American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program is growing thanks to a $3,000 grant funded by Snapping Shoals EMC’s Operation Round Up program.

Road to Recovery is a service offered by the American Cancer Society in which volunteer drivers provide cancer patients transportation to and from their scheduled medical appointments. Volunteers donate their time, gas and vehicle. In order to offset the rising cost of gas, the grant will allow for mileage reimbursement at 14 cents per mile, which will reduce this barrier and help in the recruitment of new drivers. The grant will serve Road programs in Jasper, Morgan, Newton and Walton counties.

For interested volunteers in those counties, free training is required. Road to Recovery volunteers must possess a good driving record (Driver Motor Vehicle checks are required), a valid driver’s license, auto insurance and a vehicle that is in good working condition.

Volunteers must attend one training. Two trainings will be held in Newton County Thursday, May 7, 2009 at the Theater of the Physician’s Pavilion’s Building (Basement Floor) located at 4181 Hospital Dr. Covington, GA 30014. There will be one from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and another in the evening from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A DMV form must be completed prior to attending the training.

For more information on becoming a Road to Recovery volunteer or to RSVP to a training, call Ashley Morrow at your American Cancer Society at (706) 549-4893 or through e-mail at amorrow@cancer.org.