To our Family and Friends, and Fellow Aviators,

Imagine this: your young child is in need of medical treatment, perhaps something as serious as a kidney transplant. There is a hospital waiting for you; a surgeon waiting for you. But you live in a remote part of Canada and, as a single mom, cannot afford the transportation to the hospital in Toronto. For my sister, Gail, in her years of service at Sick Kids Hospital, this scenario was not fiction. It was real. And on more than one occasion Gail called upon Hope Air to assist in bringing one of her young patients to the city for the medical treatment they so desperately needed.

For most of us, a necessary trip to the hospital for treatment means a simple car or taxi ride. But last year, for more than 45,000 Canadians - mostly children - that trip from their remote homes in the north was financially impossible. Only through the care and generosity of volunteer private pilots were they able to secure the health care they needed; the health care they deserved. In donating their skill, their aircraft and their time, these aviators are the hope for so many who need to travel great distances to hospital for needed medical care. 

My wife and co-pilot, Karen, and I are taking part in Give Hope Wings – a flying adventure with an important purpose: to raise funds for Hope Air, a uniquely Canadian charity that provides free travel to patients in need of medical treatment. It's Canada's only national charity that offers this service. Hope Air supports patients requiring treatment for a variety of health conditions, including cancer, diabetes, mental health, and more.

While many of the air transportation expenses are donated, funds raised help Hope Air to provide accommodations, airport ground transportation, and meal vouchers for patients and their families.

As participants in the expedition, Karen and I are flying on a mission to make a difference. Supporting Hope Air allows us to combine our love of flying with an opportunity to give the gift of flight to others. In early June, we will be flying north to several of the communities assisted by Hope Air and might even have the chance to meet some of our future passengers!

Many of us take travel for granted. Give Hope Wings is about supporting those who don’t have that luxury. All fundraising through Give Hope Wings funds travel for patients in financial need who must reach vital medical care far from home .

Your support bridges the distance between home and hospital, and provides immediate impact for Canadians in need. And the need has never been greater. The 45,000 travel arrangements Hope Air serviced across Canada in 2024 represents an increase of more than 50% from 2023; bookings will continue to rise in 2025. Despite this, our commitment is that no patient will be left behind when it comes to accessing vital medical care.

Your gift means that a family facing a difficult healthcare journey will not have to answer difficult questions about how or if they can afford to travel to the care they need. Your support allows them to focus on what matters most: their health, their child's health.

Thank you again for considering the important role you can play in helping patients get to medical care. We hope you will support this cause and make a donation above. There are suggested amounts, but any donation is appreciated.

And please share this page with any friends you think might be interested in giving to this worthy cause.

We can no other answer make but thanks...

Captain John and Co-Pilot Karen