After flying through eastern Canada, Give Hope Wings pilots touched down in Sudbury on Friday for the final stop of their expedition. The event is a fundraiser for Hope Air, an organization that provides transportation and accommodation for families in financial need who must travel to receive medical care. Hope Air CEO Mark Rubinstein said they make more than 3,200 travel arrangements for northern Ontario families every year. “Sudbury is one of the largest communities that rely upon Hope Air support,” Rubinstein said. “To finish our expedition here is really meaningful, especially on our 40th year of founding.” Once a year, Give Hope Wings pilots fly across the country raising awareness about the organization’s efforts. Ed Johnston, who has been a pilot with Hope Air for five years, said the event has grown considerably over the years. “Give Hope Wings started nine years ago with a couple of pilots in British Columbia flying somewhere and raising money for Hope Air -- something they want to do as part of giving back,” Johnston said. “But now we’re in Year 9 and we have a group of 15, 16 pilots flying aircraft -- and this year we’ve flown over 5,000 kilometres.” Last year, Hope Air helped more than 38,000 people access vital health care services, regardless of distance and at no cost. Ainsley Cutler was one of those patients. “I like going on the plane,” Cutler said. Her mother, Melissa Cutler, said Hope Air has been a huge help to the family. “They help us with all the aspects,” she said. “I can just focus on my daughter, (her) health and what matters most, rather than all the other things.” Johnston said he decided to get involved with Hope Air after he retired. “I think for the most part for the community, it’s actually well beyond pilots,” he said. “It actually provides, through partners, accommodations, food vouchers and even transport to and from the local small airports.” He was motivated to help, in part, by the memory of his son, who was born premature and weighed just one pound. Flights to access medical care Johnston said he was lucky that he lived in Montreal, with local access to specialized care. Today, he has flown around 15 times from Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, bringing people to and from appointments. “My very first drop-off was a gentleman who had been away from his family for nine months in London,” he said. “He had seen his wife once, but he hadn’t seen his kids in nine months. So little did I expect that there was going to be a family reunion at the airport that was exceedingly tearful for all, including me.” Rubinstein said moments like that are the reason Hope Air exists. “When you make that difference every day in one patient’s life, it really kind of refueled you in a way with the passion to keep going,” he said. “We have a great team of staff and volunteers and pilots and partners, many of whom are here today.” Hope Air relies on donations to support its services. Many organizations, community members and some provinces support their efforts, but the group doesn’t receive government support.
