A local charity dedicated to helping cancer patients has extra gas in its tank, thanks to the donation of five new cars to be used to offer at-home care.

Colleen DeGrilla, executive director of Pals, said the vehicles would be invaluable for the charity’s efforts to help its clients.

“Vehicles are the most important tool that the nurses have when we do home care,” she said. “This response to our calls for support validates what we are doing is right, correct, needed and that people appreciate it.”

Julie Harrington, clinical nurse manager at Pals, said the vehicles were important because of the amount of community work done by the charity’s nurses.

“If we did not have cars, Pals would not exist,” she said. “It is so very important, and because they are used all day, every day including weekends as we are available to our clients 365 days a year, they take a lot of hard driving.

“Most cars that we have used exceeded 14 or 15 years, and I think this is the first time in Pals history that we have had to look at getting five cars.”

Ms Harrington added that at-home treatment options for patients was crucial for both the patients and the wider healthcare system.

“Globally hospitals are shortening hospital stays. The in-vogue thing is to get in, get out and get home, so community care is paramount globally,” she said.

“What is important for us is that patients who are cared for at home do better. People do better when they are in their own environment, surrounded by people who love them.”

The five vehicles were donated by Auto Solutions, who have also offered a charity rate on any repairs and maintenance costs for the cars, HannoverRe, Everen, the Stempel Foundation and Bosom Buddies, an anticancer fundraising group.

Chrissy Wetherhill, a cofounder of Bosom Buddies, said the group had raised more than $1 million for charities through girls’ nights events.

“My mother died of cancer at an early age, so the cause has always been close to my heart,” Ms Wetherhill said.

“Pals is an amazing charity and they do amazing work for tons of patients and their families, so we have been supporting them for the past five years. It’s just a good fit.”

Glenn Smith, of Auto Solutions, said: “Everyone knows someone whose life has been touched by cancer and Pals do such an amazing job going from home to home to help different people at the different stages that they might be in.

“Given that we are in the auto mobile industry, it seemed right that we not only give a car but also service all of their vehicles for them at a discount.”

Ms DeGrilla said all five organisations were regular supporters of the charity and were eager to jump on board with the car donations.

“We are just so appreciative of all the support we get from the community,” she said. “Auto Solutions have just topped it by giving a car and 25 per cent off parts and all service for the life of the cars.

“We help so many people, and we get it back in so many different ways. There are so many times when we call and ask for help and are told that we helped their mother or their family member and they are eager to assist.”