17 Years of Locals Helping Locals: Celebrating the Legacy of Cancer Patient Transport

For 17 years, Gold Coast Hospital Foundation’s Cancer Patient Transport Service has been helping local cancer patients access the treatment they rely on, providing thousands of journeys for people navigating one of life’s most challenging experiences.

Today, the service completes more than 3,000 trips each year and travels over 100,000 kilometres, helping ensure patients have access to reliable transport to and from their critical appointments when it matters most.

Recently, Gold Coast Hospital Foundation celebrated an important milestone in the service’s history with the naming of two Cancer Patient Transport vehicles, Monique and James.

Watch the Story
Watch 9 News Gold Coast’s coverage of the Cancer Patient Transport Service vehicle naming event.

 

The Cancer Patient Transport Service began in 2009 when former Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke established the service in memory of his daughter, Monique Clarke, who lost her life to cancer. The vehicles soon became affectionately known throughout the community as “Monique’s Buses”, reflecting the love, generosity and compassion that inspired the service from the very beginning.

What began as one family’s desire to help others facing cancer quickly became a lifeline for local patients and their families.

At the recent celebration, Gold Coast Hospital Foundation was honoured to welcome Helen Clarke, Monique’s Mother, whose presence was a powerful reminder of the lasting impact Monique’s legacy continues to have across the Gold Coast.

Seventeen years later, Monique’s name remains at the heart of a service that continues to support people through some of the most challenging days of their lives.

Cancer treatment can place enormous demands on patients and families.

Many people undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment require ongoing hospital visits over weeks or months. Most are too unwell to drive, and may not have reliable transport or family support available.

The Cancer Patient Transport Service helps ensure those challenges do not become barriers to receiving treatment.

But for many patients, the service offers more than transport.

It provides reassurance that someone will be there when they need the, it provides connection during an often-isolating experience. And it serves as a reminder that their community is walking beside them every step of the way.

In 2015, Gold Coast Hospital Foundation assumed responsibility for funding and administering the service, helping ensure Ron Clarke’s vision could continue supporting local patients for years to come.

Since then, the service has continued to grow thanks to the support of volunteers, donors, sponsors, businesses, community groups, philanthropic organisations and individuals across the Gold Coast.

Every trip undertaken today is made possible by a community that continues to give, fundraise, volunteer and champion the service.

It is a powerful example of what can happen when locals come together to help one another.

The naming of the vehicle James recognised the extraordinary contribution of James Frizelle and the James Frizelle Charitable Foundation, whose support has helped strengthen and sustain the service for local patients. The Foundation has been a longstanding supporter of both Gold Coast Hospital Foundation and the Cancer Patient Transport Service, including funding three new vehicles in 2024 to help secure its future.

The naming acknowledges not only that generosity, but also a shared belief that local people should be supported through some of life’s toughest challenges.

From Monique’s Buses in 2009 to the vehicles travelling across the Gold Coast today, the Cancer Patient Transport Service has always been driven by the same simple idea: locals helping locals.

The names Monique and James now travel alongside thousands of local patients each year, serving as a reminder of the families, supporters and community members who have helped make this service possible.

To the Clarke family, the Frizelle family, our volunteers, donors, sponsors, community partners and supporters, thank you.

Because while the vehicles may carry patients to treatment, it is community generosity that keeps them moving.