Lyft to provide rides to Atlanta area residents who are fighting cancer

The American Cancer Society has partnered with Lyft to provide rides to people fighting cancer. That program with Lyft expands Atlanta . HANDOUT

The American Cancer Society has partnered with Lyft to provide rides to people fighting cancer. That program with Lyft expands Atlanta . HANDOUT

When people are battling cancer, the last thing they need to worry about is how to get to and from  treatments and doctor’s appointments.

Lyft and the American Cancer Society are expanding a partnership to provide rides to those fighting cancer through Lyft's platform in Atlanta. The program in Atlanta is effective now.

Such arrangements already exist in Las Vegas and Miami. In addition to Atlanta the program will also launch in Cincinnati, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Philadelphia and St. Louis.

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When patients contact the American Cancer Society for a ride to cancer treatments, the nonprofit will be able to use Lyft’s Concierge tool to request those rides as part of its “Road To Recovery”program. Concierge is Lyft’s third-party web request platform which enables partners to request Lyft rides on behalf of their customers.

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There will be no charge to patients.

“Lack of transportation remains one of the biggest roadblocks to receiving high-quality cancer care,” said Chuck Westbrook, senior vice president for cancer control programs at the American Cancer Society. “Our expanded partnership with Lyft will help us provide more cancer patients with access to potentially lifesaving treatments.”

For information about the program call: 1-800-227-2345.