KAL TIRE'S ROAD HEROES CONTEST

Volunteers make our communities go ‘round

This Canada Day, Kal Tire is recognizing our communities’ road heroes. They’re the volunteers getting in their cars to help Canadians get the warm meals, medical attention and community support they need to enjoy a better quality of life.

Since these volunteers are such a vital part of our communities, Kal Tire launched a contest to recognize them and help make it easier for them to continue doing their important work. Winners received prizes such as new tires, oil changes, brake service and more, as well as a $500 donation to the volunteer organization they work with.

Together, contest entrants drove 566,000 kilometres in the last year alone—a distance equivalent to driving from Vancouver to Halifax and back 46 times. And they’ve made such a tremendous contribution to their communities!

From an incredible host of submissions from BC to Ontario, eight amazing volunteers were selected as winners.

AND THE WINNERS ARE….

	DIANE THOMPSON Dunsford, Ontario Volunteer driver with Community Care Health & Care Network for 30 years Inspired to volunteer after supporting her mother through cancer treatments many years ago *“I found it so rewarding to help my community. It does help your inner self to know you’ve done something good for someone, and I didn’t ever want to give up that feeling.”*
	TREVOR WEST Edmonton, Alberta Volunteer driver with the Canadian Cancer Society/Wheels of Hope Became a volunteer driver five years ago after overcoming myeloid sarcoma “There’s so much cancer out there, so many people who are hurting. There’s got to be help somewhere. If we can help them get through one day, if I can make them laugh for 20 minutes, that’s good.”
	RANDY SCHARF Richmond/Vancouver, British Columbia Volunteer driver with Meals on Wheels/ Health & Home Care Society of BC Became a volunteer drive nine years ago and has come to appreciate the faces and community of Vancouver’s Eastside. *“Making sure people can eat is something that’s always been important to me. I would hate to think of someone not getting to eat dinner because no one was willing to drive for them.”*
	BARBARA GRAY Calgary, Alberta Volunteer driver with the Canadian Cancer Society/Wheels of Hope Became a volunteer driver in 1997 after her first breast cancer mastectomy, and continues to drive despite the cancer return and an approaching 80^th birthday “It’s one of my favourite things to do and I look forward to it all week. You meet so many wonderful people from all walks of life. Because I’ve experienced it myself, I can hear and listen and give them some hope. They appreciate being able to speak to someone who can understand.”
	PETER SIMPSON Surrey/Lower Mainland, British Columbia Volunteer driver for Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society Became a volunteer driver after losing his leg in a motorcycle accident, but wanting to use his free time and love of driving to help others “There’s a huge need for this service. People are going through awful journeys and everybody that I drive is so appreciative. To help them out doing something small like this goes such a long way.”
	JOE HALL Milton, Ontario Volunteer driver with the Canadian Cancer Society Began driving cancer patients four days a week in 2012, logging nearly 30,000 kilometres every year “I was driving two ladies back from Princess Margaret (hospital) this afternoon. One was an elderly lady on a three-month follow-up. She got in the car and she said, ‘Joe, I’ve got good news. They tell me I’m cancer free.’ And she gave me a high five. I don’t need too many of those to keep me going.”
	WENDY IRELAND Surrey/Lower Mainland, British Columbia Volunteer driver and driver dispatcher for Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society Drives patients three or four days a week and coordinates up to 50 rides each week "The average person will have to go through 25 to 30 treatments and they can’t miss a day—it’s very important—but families can’t do it all and that’s where we step up. It’s a really rewarding way to give back and the patients are so appreciative.”
	GEORGE SPENCE Kingston, Ontario Volunteer driver with the CNIB Began volunteering with CNIB 30 years ago and returned to the role in 2016 “It’s very rewarding. I do enjoy it and probably more than anything it makes me appreciate how well off sighted people are. I see the struggles people who are visually impaired go through, and yet they’re so optimistic.”