Free Transportation Service Begins For Tri-Valley Cancer Patients

TRI-VALLEY, CA — Drivers For Survivors, a nonprofit that provides free transportation service and supportive companionship for ambulatory cancer patients, expanded its service this month to three Tri-Valley cities: Dublin, Livermore and Pleasanton, it was recently announced.

The Fremont-based organization is in its seventh year of operation serving many areas in Alameda County and is now working to get word out about the new Tri-Valley expansion in an effort to increase visibility for those in need and to potentially attract new drivers.

DFS founder Sherry Higgs has stated that she understands the importance of making sure people know about the free service. In February 2010, she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer, and went through a brutal year of consecutive and intensive treatments followed by multiple surgeries that involved many trips back and forth to clinics and hospitals.

"My purpose in life became clear and a mission was born to help cancer patients with transportation and companionship," according to Higgs.

The DFS program is partially funded by the Alameda County Transportation Commission, through Measure B and Measure BB tax dollars; Federal Transit Administration Section 5310 ; and charitable individuals, organizations and businesses. According to DFS's value statement, one of the organization's tenets is to continue growing the program as critical needs dictate.

DFS has already partnered with over 200 medical providers and clinicians around the Bay Area and has provided over 18,600 rides to more than 500 clients, according to the organization.

For more information, visit http://driversforsurvivors.org/