A young woman from The Rock has stepped up as the coronavirus pandemic creates shortages in volunteers.
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Cancer Council NSW's fleet of volunteer drivers was effectively reduced by over 90 per cent overnight when the organisation decided to stand down all drivers over the age of 60 to protect their health.
The volunteer drivers take cancer patients without other means of transport to and from their medical appointments.
When the call out came for younger volunteers to sign up, 22-year-old Maddie Reynolds was quick to join.
Ms Reynolds began driving for the Cancer Council a week ago, a step she had been planning to take since the death of her grandmother Sandra in August after a battle with cancer.
"I've wanted to do it since she passed away but it just took me a little while to be able to," Ms Reynolds said.
"I kind of feel like Grandma would really want me to be doing it."
Ms Reynolds said she was very close with her grandmother, who she said had always been heavily involved in her life.
Since her grandmother's diagnosis at the end of Ms Reynolds' final year of high school, she has learnt the challenges of cancer treatment through frequent visits to the Riverina Cancer Centre with her family.
Ms Reynolds said while it was difficult to take the first step to sign up as a volunteer, she was grateful she had the opportunity.
"I was worried that I'd get emotional with seeing cancer patients again but it's just really nice, they're all lovely ... it makes you feel good like you're really helping someone," she said.
She said it was important for young people to get involved where they could at a time when older people are at greater risk, and driving was a simple way to make a big difference for those without other options.
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