Organization The First To Offer Unique Program

For Immediate Release

Organization The First To Offer Unique Program

Gas Assistance System (G.A.S.) helps cancer survivors with funding to get to their medical treatments 

Thousand Oaks, CA – February 14^th, 2013.  One of the most immediate needs of cancer survivors is gas assistance. Nearly 75% of the calls that United Cancer Advocacy Action Network (UCAAN) receives each month are cancer patients/survivors in need of financial assistance to get them to treatment or to pay bills.

While most organizations provide reimbursement after the patient has gone to the doctor, the founder of UCAAN, a survivor herself, saw a need that she felt should be met. “I’m a survivor and I know just how difficult it is to find help with the financial drain of cancer. Sometimes patients need money just to get to their treatments.  UCAAN wants to give patients the gas cards before they drive to the appointment, “Shur says.  

UCAAN is proud to announce the Gas Assistance System (G.A.S.), a program that allows cancer patients and survivors in the Tri-County area of Ventura, Santa Barbara & Los Angeles to receive a $25 gas card to get them to their treatments. One $25 gas card per patient per month is available (depending on availability) for patients undergoing cancer care. This is the first of many financial assistance programs that UCAAN hopes to offer.

Cancer Survivors interested in applying for the Gas Assistance System can download the application online at: www.ucaan.org/resources/gas_assistance/  

UCAAN is a 501c3 organization in Thousand Oaks; that was started by two-time terminal leukemia survivor Rachel Shur. From Shur’s own personal battle with cancer, she struggled to find the financial assistance and support that she needed. She found that resources were limited and that financial assistance to help the patient survivors after treatment was completed was even more difficult to find.

Shur started UCAAN in 2009 in hopes of providing cancer survivors with the levels of support that they needed. Since its inception, UCAAN has made many strides, helping provide resources & gifts of hope. UCAAN programs have attracted strong continuing interest and support from the surrounding community “It’s exciting to see the quality of support and the number of people who come in to our office out of concern for the needs of local cancer survivors.” Says Shur  “This gas assistance program is the first of what we hope to be many financial programs for cancer survivors.”  

The following programs are available to cancer survivors at UCAAN: “Young at Heart” peer lead support group that incorporates web chat to include survivors across the country, gifts of hope, group guided Imagery hypnotherapy, guidance, one-on-one counseling & support. 

As funding comes in to UCAAN more assistance programs will be announced; including a specific dental assistance program that will fund fluoride trays for cancer survivors. Fluoride trays help prevent the side effects caused by chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Other needs that could be filled are grocery cards for organic food and funds for lymphedema garments. 

Interested in getting to know more about UCAAN? Visit: www.ucaan.org for more information or email Rachel@ucaan.org  805-796-6090