Media release 17 May 2021: Cancer patients across Blayney, NSW, who rely on their cars to travel to and from treatment will benefit from crucial funding that Can Assist Blayney has received from greenslips.com.au.
Second anniversary since relationship was forged
This year marks the second anniversary since the partnership was forged between greenslips.com.au and Can Assist, a community-based volunteer network that provides financial and practical support to people affected by cancer and living in country NSW. The first Can Assist branch supported was in Orange, and since 2019 greenslips.com.au has contributed to one new branch every month, amounting to $84,000 across NSW.
“We are proud to help Can Assist in its support of rural and regional cancer patients, to raise awareness of this wonderful charity and their work, and to help cancer patients with their CTP green slip insurance,” says Stephen Treacey, the founder and owner of greenslips.com.au, a comparative CTP insurance site.
“To date, we have contributed to 26 branches across NSW, in addition to Can Assist head office. We estimate we have helped support over 260 cancer patients and their families by paying for CTP green slip insurance, ensuring they keep their cars on the road when they need them most – to get to and from treatment. Some of the distances people in rural and remote NSW have to travel to access cancer treatment are immense, and we hope we ease their cancer journey in more ways than one.”
Can Assist Blayney is funded entirely by local donations, local fundraising events, and corporate support such as greenslips.com.au. It provides practical and financial support confidentially to cancer patients to cover medical and pharmaceutical expenses, utilities, rates, food and fuel. What sets Can Assist apart from other charities – and is what attracted greenslips.com.au to the partnership – is that all money raised stays local to help local cancer patients across the district.
Sue Scott, Secretary of Can Assist Blayney, says having a car in the region is “crucial”. “Patients have to go to Orange or Bathurst for oncology, which is a round trip of almost 80km, and for even more specialised treatment, they need to go to Sydney. Some patients could be travelling daily. We have one patient going daily for three weeks.” Sue says. “Lots of clients live out of town, and without their own car they would be lost.”
Ray Burns, who is the current Can Assist Blayney Vice President and was the inaugural President, says the funds from greenslips.com.au to pay for CTP green slip insurance for local cancer patients will be a “big help”.
“Registration is a huge bill, especially for people who are struggling. Combined with the green slip, it really adds up,” he says. “It will help our patients to have a registered vehicle, which is really important in the bush. This sort of donation can have a big impact on a cancer patient and their family. It means they have one less bill to worry about so they can focus on getting better.”
Greater awareness and support needed
Established in 2008, Can Assist Blayney currently support 16 patients of different ages and at different stages of their cancer journey. Sue says the number of people requesting support has fallen, possibly as a result of people not getting medical tests because of the pandemic. COVID-19 also stopped fundraising activities for over a year. “Unfortunately, fundraising also took a hit because of the pandemic,” she says. “Our income dropped 33 per cent, but our expenses rose $10,000 during that period.”
However, the branch is now back fundraising. One of the team’s main fundraising activities is providing catering for events such as wakes and Melbourne Cup lunches, and holding cake stalls. “We always need money to help support our local cancer patients,” adds Ray. “And all money raised locally stays local to help people across the district.”
“Can Assist Blayney currently has around 30 members, but are looking for more to join the team. If we could gain some younger volunteers, particularly those aged 30 and over, that would be great,” says Ray. “We are all volunteers helping our local community, so if we can share the load, it’s so much better for all.”
For information about donating or volunteering with Can Assist Blayney, contact 0488 606 831. For more information on how to support Can Assist, visit www.canassist.org.au.
More about greenslips.com.au and Can Assist.
Can Assist aims
Can Assist aims to ensure that all people, regardless of where they live in NSW, have access to cancer treatment and care. It provides accommodation, financial assistance and practical support to people from rural and regional areas. This ensures country people are given the same opportunities and treatment choices as those who live in city centres.
Can Assist facts
- Established in 1955, Can Assist provides practical and financial support to people affected by cancer and living in country NSW. It is funded entirely by local donations and corporate sponsorships.
- In 2019, Can Assist responded to over 7,700 requests for assistance from rural and regional cancer patients through 55 branches across NSW.
- Can Assist is a grass roots, community-based volunteer network. It is local volunteers supporting local families affected by cancer.
- All the money raised locally stays local.
- greenslips.com.au, a price comparison and information service for CTP green slip insurance, is a partner of Can Assist. It does not sell CTP green slip insurance.
- Since 2019, greenslips.com.au has supported Can Assist head office and 26 branches across NSW and commits to providing further support.
For further information:
Lisa Llewellyn
0419 401 362 | lisa@llewcom.com.au
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