The Cessnock Patient Transport Service was funded by the 2016 Cessnock Relay For Life and will be facilitated by Cessnock Community Transport.

The Toyota Camry was unveiled at the relay in October, and is now in use five days a week.

Cancer Council Hunter regional manager Shayne Connell said surveys have found transport to treatment was the number one concern for cancer patients.

Mr Connell said the service will continue to be funded by Cessnock Relay For Life.

“It’s not just a car, it’s a service for the Cessnock community,” he said.

A Cessnock woman with stage three breast cancer was the first person to use the service.

After her car broke down and she was unable to afford to get it fixed, Angela had to rely on family and friends to driver her to Newcastle for treatment.

She has since been told it is unsafe for her to drive at the moment, due to the effects of the chemotherapy.

“This was extra stress on top of having cancer, the side affects of treatment, finding transport to make sure I got the treatment and made it to my appointments,” she said.

But the transport service has taken away that extra stress – and Angela can now focus on getting better.

“I hope the drivers realise how much they have made a difference,” she said.

As awareness of the service grows, it is expected more patients will want to use the service – therefore more volunteer drivers are needed.

The current volunteer drivers have signed for a range of reasons – some are cancer survivors, while others have had family members battle the disease.

Kathy Pynsent said she signed up as a volunteer because she was aware of aware of the value and importance of a locally-based patient transport service – especially when patients are receiving treatment every day for an extended period.

“Being able to do something so worthwhile which helps relieve that stress is the least I can do,” Mrs Pynsent said.

Anyone wishing to become a volunteer driver can contact Clint Ekert on 6572 5405 or Clint.Ekert@nswcc.org.au.

Cancer patients who would like to utilise the service should contact Cessnock Community Transport on 4990 7247.

Meanwhile, momentum is building for the 2017 Cessnock Relay For Life, which will be launched with a trivia night at Cessnock Leagues Club on Saturday, April 8.

An Easter egg hunt will be held at Leagues Club garden the following day from 10am.

The relay itself will be held at Baddeley Park on Saturday, October 14 from 10am to 10pm.

Find out more at cessnockrelay.com or ‘Cessnock Relay For Life’ on Facebook.

Check out photos from the 2016 Cessnock Relay For Life in the gallery below.