Transportation Resources for Pediatric Cancer Patients

Are you having trouble getting to your child's treatment center? 

• Talk with the social worker in your cancer center about local transportation resources for people with cancer.
• Your cancer center may have a local van service available.
• Local cancer service organizations may provide transportation assistance or reimbursements.
• Your local Ronald McDonald House may provide shuttle transportation to and from the house and the treatment center (if you are staying at the house).

Alex's Lemonade Stand: Travel Fund

• Applications must be initiated by a certified healthcare professional.
• Covers:
  • Travel: Airline tickets, gas cards, rail tickets, cab or parking vouchers.
  • Lodging: Hotels & philanthropic housing.
  • Meals: Food vouchers from the hospital's on-site cafeteria and local area restaurants.

• Patients under 21 and in active treatment for cancer are potentially eligible.
• Families must be receiving cancer treatment at a “partner facility”.
• Learn more on their website: http://www.alexslemonade.org/travel-fund

Lymphoma Research Foundation Financial Assistance Program

• Available to those diagnosed with lymphoma and going through active treatment who meet specific financial criteria.
• To learn more, call 800-500-9976 or visit their website: https://www.lymphoma.org/learn/supportservices/financialsupport/

Mercy Medical Healing

• Provides gas cards, commercial ground transportation (AMTRAK, Greyhound, Trailways, etc.), and volunteer drivers.
• Requires:
  • Scheduled medical appointment.
  • Clearance by a physician to travel.
  • Verifiable financial need.
  • Foundation prefers 7 days notification of transportation needs. 
  • To apply for assistance visit: https://angelwheels.org or call 1-800-768-0238.

Angel Flight

• Provides free air transportation for medical needs. The patient must be medically cleared for air travel.
• Several branches throughout the country including:
  • Angel Flight NE www.angelflightne.org
  • Angel Flight Soars (SW US) www.angelflightsoars.org
  • Angel Flight East www.angelflighteast.org
  • Angel Flight West www.angelflightwest.org
  • Angel Flight Central www.angelflightcentral.org
  • Angel Flight South Central www.angelflightsc.org

Patient Airlift Services (PALS)

• Provides free air transportation to individuals and families who need to travel to receive treatment but cannot afford to fly commercially.  
• Patients must be ambulatory and able to sit upright
• Primarily services the Greater Northeast region of the US: Virginia to Maine and Ohio to Massachusetts
• http://www.palservices.org

Compass to Care

• Schedules and pays for transportation to treatment centers.
• Must be under 18, travel more than 60 miles for treatment, and demonstrate financial need.
• www.compasstocare.org

The National Children’s Cancer Society: Transportation Assistance Fund

• Provides financial assistance for transportation costs associated with pediatric cancer treatment.
• The child must be diagnosed on or before their 18^th birthday.
• The child must be a US citizen or reside in the US.
• The family must demonstrate financial hardship.
• https://www.thenccs.org/financial-assistance

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

• Offers travel grants nationally and locally. Fund availability varies.
• https://www.lls.org/support-resources/financial-support/susan-lang-pay-it-forward-patient-travel-assistance-program