A VOLUNTEER driver from Uffculme, who covers thousands of miles each year to take cancer patients to receive treatment in Taunton and Bristol had her contribution recognised at the British Red Cross long service awards last week.

Sue Hartley, received a ten-year service award at the ceremony, held at the Beacon Centre in Taunton last Thursday.

Sue is part of a 70-strong team of volunteer drivers who collectively clock up about 500,000 miles each year supporting more than 1,000 Somerset-based cancer patients.

She said: “I do it because I like the fact I am a help to other people and it offers me companionship, too.

“When they get in the car, I find many of the clients are able to offload some of their problems or concerns – they can relax and speak freely.

“The idea is to make the trip as easy as possible for them. Often when I take someone home after their treatment they simply say ‘thank you so much for looking after me’ – that means so much.”

This year the service celebrates 15 years of providing support.

The Red Cross provides the free door-to-door transport service under a contract with Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group taking people from their homes in Somerset to the Bristol Haemat-ology Oncology Centre and the Beacon Centre in Taunton.