Road to recovery

WILMINGTON–Denise Phillips was shocked when she found out she had breast cancer.

“I didn’t have time to feel, Phillips says, “I didn’t want to die. I knew that.”

After being tired of relying on unreliable transportation to get her to
her cancer treatments, Phillips learned about the American Cancer Society’s road to recovery
program. The program has volunteers to take Phillips to her radiation treatments
each week.

Shelly Thomas spearheads “Road to Recovery” and says volunteers use
their own gas and their own cars to help get patients to life saving
treatments.

“You know we are in need of volunteers all across our state and in rural
areas.”

Currently, New Hanover County has 8 volunteers Brunswick and Pender counties each have 4.

Carolyn Biberstein drives from Burgaw to take Phillips to her appoinments.
“It’s something that I can do, something that I want to do and it’s my pleasure to do it. Her attitude is wonderful and if that has anything to do with being a
survivor she’s one up already. She inspires me. I feel better when I’ve seen Denise.”

Phillips says Biberstein makes her feel comfortable.
“She wasn’t there to say ‘i’m just here to get you to your appointment’, but she made me
feel like she was my friend like an angel.”

If you would like to volunteer for the road to recovery program, call
254-4870.

If you need their services, just call 1-800-227-2345.