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Volunteer Driver Kevin – ‘You meet some really nice, genuine people’

It was a considerate act for a family member that first opened Kevin Lawlor's mind to volunteering on four wheels.

At the time his aunt based in Wexford had few transport options to treatment in Dublin, and Kevin would step in as often as possible to help fill the gap.

“She was about 10 miles outside the town, she wasn’t on a bus route and they weren’t that frequent anyway. It was a big ordeal for her to get up to Dublin for treatment, and I used to bring her when I had time on my hands,” says Kevin, who lives in Enniscorthy.

Kevin was well used to being on the road from a career working in life assurance, so after this somewhat accidental introduction to the world of Volunteer Driving it seemed a natural next step to him to link up with the Irish Cancer Society to offer his services for others.

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I saw how difficult it was for her, so I said that if I could alleviate that situation for others then I’d do it, and that’s how I volunteered.

Kevin Lawlor, Irish Cancer Society Volunteer Driver
Kevin Lawlor 2

Seven years on and Kevin is among the most active members of a truly unique and committed community of drivers having himself completed nearly 80 journeys transporting patients to and from treatment last year alone, many to destinations as far afield as Kilkenny, Waterford and Dublin.

“I enjoy doing it. I like driving for starters, and the people who you’re bringing are quite ill. While they’re going through all that stress and the side effects of chemo and cancer, I feel that we alleviate the pressure of transport so it’s one headache they don’t have to worry about,” Kevin says.

“You do get quite fond of people - you meet some really nice, genuine people and you hear great stories about amazing people and the lives they’ve led.

“It’s very worthwhile, it’s very satisfying. People are really thankful and grateful, it means so much to them that you’re taking pressure and worry off them, and that includes financial worries if you’re driving and parking. And people can feel that they’re putting family members under pressure as well to take them, so it takes that pressure off.”

Daffodil Day 2022

Cancer takes so much from so many, this Daffodil Day we are taking back from cancer so that one day cancer can take no more. 

You make that happen.

Contact the Irish Cancer Society Support Line

If you have worries or concerns about cancer, you can speak confidentially to an Irish Cancer Society Cancer Nurse through the Freephone Support Line on 1800 200 700.

Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm

Roz, Cancer Nurseline

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1800 200 700

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