When you call Matapihi resident Linda Milne, you might not always get hold of her. And for good reason.

“Sorry, I’m driving a client – I’ll call you back in about 10 minutes once I’ve dropped them off,” the 67-year-old tells The Sun.

Ten minutes later... “Hello, yep, I’m good now,” says Linda, parked on the road-side post drop-off.

Linda is a Cancer Society Waikato/Bay of Plenty volunteer who drives Tauranga cancer patients to their treatments. A CS volunteer for five years, she also helps organise Daffodil Day collections each August in the Bayfair area.

“You know it [the Cancer Society] touches so many people’s hearts – and across all generations. “That’s what I really like about it.”

Linda says Daffodil Day volunteering is “only a few days out of the whole year” and the driving – well, she does it out of necessity.

“With the driving I do – without it some people just cannot get to their treatments,” says Linda, who uses her own car for the service.

“And we’re very privileged to hear all of their stories along the way – it’s very touching. You know, you’ve just got that ear – someone for them to talk to that’s not involved with them emotionally.”

What made her volunteer? “I was in early retirement and was an Altrusa member for 19 years – now that I had the time, I wanted to find something where I could give back to the community.

“With the driving, you’re not committed on any particular day or week – you get a message at the week’s end, asking if you can drive the next week.”

However, during Covid-19 lockdowns Linda was behind the steering wheel more often.

“I was under 70 years of age and they weren’t permitting older volunteers to do the driving due to government guidelines. It was very busy helping people to get to appointments during that time.”

Linda admits she has some fascinating experiences being in the car with people who are often facing the biggest challenge of their lives.

“Totally; and I’m just in awe as to how they all cope with it and how pragmatic so many of them are. They all sing the praises of the people where they receive radiation and chemo. The medical staff treat them like family.”

And with Tauranga City roads so busy these days “the people undergoing treatment – they don’t need the stress of driving themselves. So they really appreciate it”.

Is there tears or laughs in the car? “A lot of laughs. I’ve just had this delightful little English lady. She said: ‘You’ve just got to have a sense of humour’. And most do so...you get a few, usually younger ones, that are a bit down about their prognosis – not knowing what’s around the corner – but overall they’re surprisingly positive.

“It’s a rollercoaster for them – but they are very thankful for the services the Cancer Society provides.”

Linda knows money is tight these days, but says if you can spare a few coins for the Cancer Society this Daffodil Day on August 25 – she can vouch it will make a difference to those battling cancer.

“This is a fantastic organisation.”

Many of Tauranga’s street collection sites will have Eftpos and all will have a QR code to scan. Donations can also be made in any ANZ branch.