Volunteer Opportunities

Oncology Recreation Therapy Program is made possible by the efforts of volunteers. Learn about opportunities to volunteer below.

Laugh Mobile

Duke Oncology Recreation Therapy brings humor and laughter to patients by way of the Laugh Mobile.

The Laugh Mobile is a rolling cart that contains items available for checkout such as humorous audio and video cassettes, and books by such well-known authors as Erma Bombeck, Louis Grizzard, Bill Cosby, and George Burns. Silly items such as whoopie cushions, bubbles, and rubber chickens are also included.

The Laugh Mobile travels through the units at least once a week with the help of volunteers and students.

These individuals provide therapeutic humor to assist patients with cancer and their families in coping with the secondary effects of their illness.

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Hospitality Cart

Hospitality is defined as the act of making individuals feel comfortable and welcomed. The Hospitality Cart is a volunteer-led program that embraces this definition.

Volunteers go door-to-door offering opportunities for socialization, nourishment, and activities for structuring free time to patients with cancer and their families.

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Adult Outpatient Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic

The Duke Adult Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplantation (ABMT) Program is internationally recognized for its novel approaches to treating leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other solid tumors through stem cell transplantation.

Often there is decreased social and emotional support for these out-of-town and even local patients. Some are required to stay close to Duke facilities for monitoring many months after transplant.

Volunteers provide opportunities for socialization and encourage these patients and their caregivers to engage in activities that structure free time and help to build their social support network.

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ORT Departmental Volunteer

The purpose of Duke Oncology Recreation Therapy is to assist patients with cancer and their families in coping with the secondary effects of their illness.

Upon assessments of the patients’ needs, interests, and abilities, appropriate recreation activities are offered to assist in maintaining or improving mental, social, cognitive, and physical well-being.

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