Cancer patients across NSW will be given help to pay their car insurance green slips thanks to a phone call from Orange.
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Helen Corby, the treasurer of cancer-patient support group Can Assist's Orange branch, contacted insurance comparison company greenslips.com.au on behalf of a farmer from Cumnock in February.
When the company's founder Stephen Treacey heard about the call he was so moved he has now pledged funding to help cancer patients across NSW.
Orange and Finley, in southern NSW, will be the first two areas to receive funding of $3000 which Can Assist will use to help pay green slips for cancer patients.
I have seen the upheaval and disruption caused to people when they are forced to leave town for medical treatment.
- Stephen Treacey, Founder greenslips.com.au
Mr Treacey said Mrs Corby's call had "resonated" with him.
"She was trying to help a cancer patient who needed a green slip so he could get to treatment," he said.
"The impact of something as simple as a green slip on someone's well-being and access to care really struck me.
"I know how people living in the country are affected by a health crisis. I have seen the upheaval and disruption caused to people when they are forced to leave town for medical treatment."
It just blew me away.
- Helen Corby, treasurer Can Assist Orange branch
Mrs Corby said she was just trying to pay for the green slip on behalf of the farmer and was stunned to see the response from the company.
"It just blew me away. That's all it came from," she said.
She said the group had 70 people on its books in Orange of which 55 had been given financial assistance for a variety of bills while they were receiving treatment.
Mrs Corby said they had given out about $40,000 this financial year.
Can Assist Orange branch president Shirley Doherty said car costs were important for cancer patients in Orange and 54 small places in the region who were involved with the branch.
She said they had recently helped a young woman whose car had broken down and who needed it to get to treatment.
Can Assist executive director Emma Phillips said it helped about 7000 rural and regional NSW cancer patients in NSW last year.
"This partnership will help patients keep their car on the road and most importantly help them get to life-saving treatments," she said.
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