New vehicle for CHOC enhances Plumstead support for patients' families

The CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation received a new vehicle for their Plumstead home, which will help cancer patients and their families make regular visits to the hospital.

CHOC received its 14-seater Toyota Quantum minivan last Wednesday, August 27, at a car dealership in Bellville.

The vehicle was sponsored by The South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT).

CHOC’s regional manager, Lynette Muthuray, said the CHOC Houses nationwide cater to families that travel long distances for cancer treatment. “ To accomplish this here in the Western Cape, CHOC manages three ‘home-away-from-home’ accommodation facilities,” she said.

Ms Muthuray said the CHOC Lodge Tygerberg provides support to families receiving treatment at Tygerberg Hospital, while the Plumstead CHOC House and the Sybrand Park CHOC House accommodate families receiving treatment from Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and Groote Schuur Hospital. 

Ms Muthuray said the CHOC Plumstead home is around 14 km from Groote Schuur Hospital and 9,6 km from Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. “The Plumstead House had an extremely high bed occupancy; this is a direct result of the high referrals from the hospitals, and as CHOC, we do not turn any long-distance family away,” she said.

Ms Muthuray said their current vehicle is a smaller minibus with limited capacity. “It is also ageing and requires constant maintenance. We maintain the vehicle diligently, but a larger vehicle would have a positive impact on our operations,” she said.

With their new vehicle, Ms Muthuray said they can transport the patients and families of the Plumstead CHOC home to Groote Schuur and the children’s hospital for treatment and back daily. “It also transports parents to and from CT International Airport and long-distance bus stops,” she said.

"We are very happy and satisfied with the new vehicle," said Ms Muthuray.

Visit www.choc.org.za for more information about the foundation.