Pilots from across the country are taking it to new heights to advance a nonprofit organization whose goal is to connect patients with healthcare. Volunteers will take to the skies to raise awareness of Hope Air with the sixth annual Give Hope Wings Expedition.
Pilots have traveled across Canada in years past, but this year the country has been divided into three regions: East, West and Prairies.
“It’s a way of reaching more communities and attracting more pilots from the prairie to participate,” Doug McNair, co-captain of the Prairie Expedition, told CTV News.
The goal is to visit 12 prairie communities over six days, with the final stop on Friday in Saskatoon.
“One thing we discovered while flying around is that there is relatively little awareness of the existence of Hope Air in some communities,” Rupert Robin, co-captain of the Prairie Expedition, said in an interview on Wednesday.
Robin told CTV News that the nonprofit operates like a medical travel agency, providing flights, accommodation and transportation for medical services to people in financial need. He said the team met with local politicians, healthcare workers and social workers during the trip.
“The goal is twofold. One of which is making sure communities know Hope Air exists and that help is available,” said Robin.
“The other thing is to make sure that the business community and political administrations in the areas we visit understand that there is a need,” he said.
The expedition includes ten pilots and is estimated to cover approximately 3,537 kilometers.
“All the pilots on the expedition are self-funding. We fly our own planes, we pay for our own gas, and we pay for our own hotels.”
“We do this because, first of all, we enjoy flying. Second, it’s a great way to combine our passion for flying with spreading the message.
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