Jerusalem ( CNN ) -- Aya Abu Mouwais , a 3-year-old who lives in the West Bank , can barely walk or talk because of a failing kidney and liver . For much of her life , the Palestinian child has needed dialysis to survive . Thankfully , an Israeli man has been able to help her get the treatment she so desperately requires . More than 500 times in the past two years , Yuval Roth and his volunteers have driven Aya and her mother roundtrip from a checkpoint near the West Bank border to Rambam Medical Center , which is an hour away in Haifa , Israel . `` What Yuval has done , no one else has done , '' said Aya 's mother , Suhair . `` He is day by day helping us to get her to the hospital . I 'm not allowed to drive an Israeli car , so if not for Yuval , we would n't be able to transport her . I thank him . '' Leaving the West Bank is the only way Aya 's family can get dialysis . For one thing , medical facilities are limited in the territory . `` In the Palestinian Authority , it 's very expensive to get health care , and most of the people can not afford it , '' Roth said . It 's also expensive to make the trip to Israeli hospitals . Although the Palestinian Authority allows sick children and adults to leave the West Bank for treatment , Palestinians are not allowed to drive past the checkpoints . To get to Israeli hospitals , they 'd have to take a taxi , which would cost at least $ 90 each way . Fortunately , there is Roth and his organization , Derech Hachlama ( `` On the Road to Recovery '' ) . Since 2006 , Roth and his team of volunteers have been giving Palestinians a lifeline . `` The volunteers are driving at least five days a week , '' said Roth , a 55-year-old carpenter and professional juggler from Pardes Hanna , Israel . `` Some ( drive ) in the morning to drop off patients , and others come in the evening to take them back . That makes the whole thing easy , since they can still go to work and do n't have to spend the whole day . '' For Roth , the transportation service is a way to recover from personal tragedy . In 1993 , his brother Udi was kidnapped and killed by members of Hamas . After his loss , Roth found a way to channel his anger into peace . `` I heard an interview on Israeli radio with a man who lost his son in the same way that I lost my brother , '' Roth said . `` After the interview , I called him ... and he said he had an idea to establish a group to encourage dialogue between bereaved families from both sides , Israelis and Palestinians . '' Roth joined the group , called Parents Circle - Families Forum , and befriended many Palestinians . All shared a surprisingly common need : transportation access to Israeli health-care facilities . `` One day , ( a program participant ) called and told me his brother might have a brain tumor . He had an appointment at Rambam hospital but no way to go , '' Roth said . `` He asked if I could drive him , and I agreed it would be no problem . '' That first call for help was more than four years ago . As word of Roth 's generosity spread , transportation demands grew , and Roth began to recruit his friends as driver-volunteers . Today , Roth 's group has grown to 200 volunteers . Transport coordination efforts are run entirely by Roth , who spends many hours on his cell phone inquiring about the location of volunteers and Palestinian families . Each volunteer maintains his or her own vehicle , but Roth helps cover gasoline costs with donation money he has received . Do you know a hero ? Nominations are open for 2011 CNN Heroes . Even though differences exist , including some language barriers , Roth believes that the program helps Israelis and Palestinians learn from and respect each other . `` When we are coming to pick up the sick kids , the ( Palestinian and Israeli ) checkpoint managers help us a lot , '' Roth said . `` It makes our life and their life a lot easier . I think Palestinian families trust me also because I 'm coming as one of them . I feel like they are my family or my friends . '' Roth 's group has driven an estimated 90,000 kilometers ( about 55,000 miles ) in 2010 alone . He says they have helped hundreds of Palestinians get access to health care . `` I lost my brother , but I did n't lose my head , '' Roth said . `` This activity gives me an essence for life . I have learned the price of the conflict is a lot more than the price of making peace . We are all human beings . '' Want to get involved ? E-mail On the Road to Recovery at roadtorecovery10 @ gmail.com for more information . CNN 's Allie Torgan , Michael Schwartz , David Hawley and Guy Azriel contributed to this report .
Yuval Roth runs a service that transports sick Palestinians to Israeli hospitals . Many of these Palestinians lack access to the medical care they need to survive . Roth 's brother David was killed by Hamas in 1993 , but he still tries to help others . Do you know a hero ? Nominations are open for all CNN Heroes .