CV resident’s company offering rides to cancer patients

Comfort Keepers of San Diego has teamed up with the American Cancer Society’s Road To Recovery program, offering to drive cancer patients to and from their cancer treatments. Rides are beginning to be ramped up in the Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe and Carmel Valley area by the San Diego franchise, owned and operated by Carmel Valley’s Mathew Fink and Sheri Harvey.

“One cancer patient requiring radiation therapy could need from 20 to 30 trips to treatment in six weeks,” said Chuck Westbrook, senior vice president for cancer control and services for the American Cancer Society. “A patient receiving chemotherapy might report for weekly treatment for several months. In many cases, a patient is driven to hospitals or clinics by relatives or friends, but even these patients must occasionally seek alternative transportation. That’s where the Road To Recovery program comes in. We are grateful for Comfort Keepers’ assistance helping us ensure that cancer patients get to their life-saving treatment.”

Founded in 1998, Comfort Keepers is a leading national franchise in the in-home care market. The network has grown to more than 700 franchised locations around the world.

Fink has owned the San Diego Comfort Keepers franchise since 2001. He had seen first-hand how a caregiver could enhance the life of a senior with his own grandfather and wanted to go into business to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Fink also serves on the board of directors at Jewish Family Service of San Diego and Elderhelp of San Diego.

As each client has unique care needs, Comfort Keepers is able to offer a full range of companionship and personal care service. Levels of support vary from help preparing meals and just having someone to go on a walk with, to assistance with mobility, bathing and feeding.

Comfort Keepers also helps meet the 24-hour care needs required for its many patients with Parkinson’s, dementia and Alzheimer’s.

The decision to support the American Cancer Society (ACS) was an easy one, as it is something close to the organization’s heart: Harvey lost both of her grandmothers to cancer and her mother had recently passed away from the disease. Additionally, Harvey serves on the ACS of San Diego’s Leadership Council and became aware of patients’ needs in the community. They decided to utilize their resources of drivers and caregivers to help give back.

“It is important to support the communities in which we do business, and I cannot think of a more worthwhile endeavor than ensuring access to critical medical treatment,” Harvey said.

While Comfort Keepers has a fleet of administrative vehicles, caregivers will also offer rides in their own vehicles — the staff was more than willing to volunteer.

“Most everyone at Comfort Keepers has that big heart and wants to help people first and foremost,” Fink said. “They have stepped up to fill the gaps that the American Cancer Society has.”

Comfort Keepers San Diego was the first to join in Road To Recovery and hopes that offices around the country will follow suit.

“We live our mission statement every day, and that means we provide our clients with the highest quality of life possible,” Fink said. “The American Cancer Society does remarkable work, and we are honored to be a part of a program that provides so much to so many.”

To learn more about Road To Recovery or schedule a ride, visit cancer.org/ treatment/supportprograms

services/road-to-recovery. You can also volunteer to become a Road to Recovery driver.

For more on Comfort Keepers, visit comfortkeepers.com