Robin Billingsley can often be found at Chattanooga's Erlanger Hospital reading the newspaper and people-watching. The 58-year-old Ringgold resident volunteers as a driver for the American Cancer Society, transporting cancer patients to and from appointments across North Georgia and Tennessee.
She hasn't met her current patient yet; another volunteer brought him to the hospital for his 15-minute appointment. But when he's wrapped up, he'll call Billingsley, who will help him into her red 2015 Ford Taurus and drive him 45 minutes to his home.
She doesn't mind the drive.
"I've formed many bonds," Billingsley said. "Sometimes the patients really want to talk, sing or pray."
Other times they don't want to talk, but she's understanding of that, too.
"Sometimes your presence is enough for them," she said.
Billingsley has been volunteering for three years with the American Cancer Society's Road To Recovery program. She found out about the program via Facebook but has always wanted to be involved in a volunteer group like it, she said. For 13 years, she worked in a cancer treatment center and would joke that if she won the lottery, she'd start a program that gave free rides to cancer patients.
She saw the need in her personal life as well. Both of her parents died of cancer in the past 15 years, and her sister-in-law survived colon cancer. In addition to helping others fight against the disease, Billingsley sees volunteering as a way to feel better about her own situation.
"This fills a void," she said. "It's so satisfying."
Roughly 50,450 Georgia residents receive a cancer diagnosis each year, according to the American Cancer Society. The Centers for Disease Control ranks the state as the 12th-highest in the nation for new cancer cases.
The Road To Recovery program has only about 10,000 volunteers nationwide, and North Georgia has an extreme need for drivers, said Amy Fields, a health systems manager at ACS. In 2018, 106 rides were unfulfilled in Catoosa, Walker, Dade, Murray and Whitfield counties.
"For many cancer patients, getting to and from treatment is the greatest barrier in beating the disease," Fields said.
Nationally, transportation and financial assistance are among the top non-medical needs patients are most worried about, according to ACS.
Janet Kramer-Mai, the director of oncology support services at Erlanger, said she's seen patients stranded at the hospital and employees searching for cab fare or loading them into their own car.
"At the end of the day, sometimes patients just don't have anybody," she said.
And for cancer patients, missing a treatment can be devastating, added Kramer-Mai. "Missing a treatment impacts overall survival."
Depending on the type of cancer, a patient on radiation will need to go in for 15-30 minutes five days a week for about two to six weeks. A patient on chemotherapy could need to be in treatment for one to eight hours every week for six months.
The Road To Recovery program requires drivers to have a clean record, insurance, access to a safe car and the internet, and a flexible schedule. The program offers ongoing training and safety courses.
" ... It works with your schedule," Fields said.
When Billingsley is volunteering, she gets a call from ACS a few days before the appointment. She then calls the patient to confirm the details of the pickup or drop-off, how long the appointment is scheduled to take, and other information she might need to know, like whether the patient would like company during treatment. Sometimes, she'll help with multiple rides a day for multiple patients.
She doesn't get reimbursed for her mileage or paid in any way, but to her, it's more than part-time volunteering.
"I'm glad I'm in a situation where I can do this," Billingsley said. "Everybody should want to help their fellow man."
Email Sabrina Bodon at sbodon@timesfreepress.com.