Birthday Arrives Early For Comfort Care Transportation's Million Mile Rider in Austin

AUSTIN, TX, September 25, 2010 (Press-News.org) Mercedes Palomo got an early birthday present Wednesday as the passenger who helped Comfort Care Transportation surpass 1 million miles of patient transports in Austin - and she decided to share her good fortune with a cadre of cancer survivor volunteers at Cancer Connection.

Comfort Care Transportation entered the Austin market in 2006 as a no-cost medical transportation service for qualifying Medicare-eligible seniors. On Wednesday, the company passed the 1 million mile mark with the delivery of Mercedes Palomo to WellMed Senior Clinic at St. Johns, 6937 N. Interstate 35.

Palomo, who turns 87 on Friday, was greeted with flowers and balloons when she and her driver arrived. The Million Mile Rider campaign launched more than a month ago, with drivers informing passengers the lucky rider would get the opportunity to select an Austin-area charity for a $1,500 donation.

A slightly teary-eyed Palomo blushed and smiled as she was asked what non-profit group she wanted to designate for the donation from Comfort Care Transportation, a subsidiary of WellMed Medical Management. Palomo said she had discussed the possibility of becoming the Million Mile Rider with her daughter, Dolores, and that they wanted to help a charity that supports cancer research or cancer survivors. She said both women know people who recently lost loved ones to cancer.

After being presented with several options, Palomo selected a small yet effective non-profit group -- Cancer Connection. Formerly CanCare Austin, Cancer Connection is a network of survivors and caregivers providing emotional support for individuals and families affected by cancer by offering hope, companionship, and encouragement. The organization's mission is that no one in the greater Austin area has to face cancer alone.

Leaders at the non-profit were delighted to learn of the donation, and slightly stunned to discover Palomo had no direct link to their group or the cause.

"All of us at Cancer Connection were thrilled to learn that our cancer care organization has been selected to receive this special donation commemorating 1 million miles of ride assistance for patients served through WellMed's Comfort Care Transportation services," said Karen Greif, co-founder and Board Chair of Cancer Connection.

"It is on a shoestring budget that our 300 cancer survivor volunteers provide hope, support, and encouragement to Austin-area residents who are currently battling this disease. We thank Mercedes Palomo for designating Cancer Connection and appreciate the huge impact this generous gift will have on our work and mission."

Million Mile Rider is part of WellMed's 20th Anniversary celebration. The diversified healthcare company, founded in 1990, has three lines of business in Austin - Comfort Care Transportation, WellMed Senior Clinics and Physicians Health Choice, an HMO offering Medicare Advantage health plans.

WellMed's growing presence includes the company's fourth Austin clinic and first in East Austin -- WellMed Senior Clinic at Rosewood, which opens November 1.

WellMed Medical Management is a diversified healthcare company and health plan provider serving more than 100,000 patients and Medicare Advantage health plan members in Texas, Florida, Arkansas and New Mexico. WellMed is an industry leader in medical risk management, highly effective disease management and chronic care programs, healthcare delivery services, and more.

WellMed is South Texas' largest physician-owned practice management company and medical group, specializing in senor health care since 1990. With more than 30 medical clinics in Texas and Florida, the vision of the healthcare company and insurance provider is to change the face of healthcare delivery for seniors.