The second annual Haul for Hope plane pull at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport has been a resounding success, raising over $100,000 to support Hope Air’s vital mission. This national charity provides travel assistance to Canadians facing financial hardships while seeking medical care far from home.
The event saw a remarkable turnout with 17 teams, including 11 returning from last year’s inaugural event and six new teams, all dedicated to helping Hope Air achieve its goal. Among the new participants was David Steele, a strongman competitor from the UK, who participated in his first plane pull while engaging his colleagues in a team-building activity. A frequent traveler to Toronto for business, Steele is an advocate for Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, recognizing the airport’s convenient location in the heart of the city.
The Haul for Hope plane pull is a unique event where teams of up to 10 individuals collaborate to pull a 67,000-pound Porter Airlines aircraft for a distance of 100 meters. This symbolic challenge mirrors the obstacles Hope Air patients face as they navigate geographical distances to access essential medical care. The event underscores the importance of community support in connecting home to hospital.
Porter Airlines has been a long-time partner with Hope Air, offering complimentary travel vouchers to patients flying from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. This service is a vital link for countless families, individuals, and children requiring specialized medical care in Toronto, particularly for those from remote areas like Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, and Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Hope Air is currently experiencing unprecedented demand for its services, having already achieved a record for travel support in just the first seven months of 2024. Events like Haul for Hope are crucial for raising the funds and awareness necessary to ensure Canadians living in rural and remote areas maintain access to the medical care they urgently require.
The support for Hope Air’s mission was evident in the inspiring words shared by key figures involved in the event.
“As owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, PortsToronto is proud to play an important role in facilitating Hope Air’s critical mission,” said RJ Steenstra, President and CEO of PortsToronto, owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. “Hope Air provides thousands of free flights to connect patients to essential care, and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is an important component of the journey from home to health. Hosting Haul for Hope at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport underscores our longstanding commitment to supporting Hope Air’s work, and it is truly inspiring to witness the collaborative spirit of the teams involved.”
“We were excited to welcome 17 teams for a day of fun and friendly competition at this year’s Hope Air plane pull,” said Neil Pakey, President and CEO of Nieuport Aviation, owner and operator of the passenger terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. “YTZ’s central location, combined with the life-saving service that Hope Air provides, makes the airport a vital connector for the city of Toronto, and David Steele’s participation in this year’s event is a reminder of the quick and convenient connections we provide for leisure and business travellers alike.”
“This event is much more than just pulling a plane,” said Mark Rubinstein, CEO of Hope Air. “It’s about pulling together as a community to support Canadians who are facing incredible challenges to access healthcare. After hosting Haul for Hope at four sites in Western Canada, we’re proud to return to Toronto and close out the 2024 season at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport with partners like Porter Airlines, Nieuport Aviation, and PortsToronto who are instrumental in ensuring that no patient is left behind.”
Haul for Hope is a vital fundraising initiative for Hope Air, the only national charity in Canada dedicated to providing complimentary travel assistance, including flights, lodging, meals, and ground transportation, to Canadians struggling financially while seeking medical care far from home.
Since its inception in 1986, Hope Air has facilitated over 200,000 travel arrangements for patients of all ages and varying medical needs. Without Hope Air’s support, 87% of patients reported having no viable travel alternatives, with 48% facing journeys lasting 9 to 13 hours or more each way to receive care. Additionally, 65% indicated they would have to incur debt to cover travel expenses, with 25% needing to borrow funds.
In response to a significant surge in demand, the charity is exploring new fundraising strategies. In 2023, Hope Air successfully arranged 24,998 travel supports, representing a staggering 144% increase compared to 2022, and is on pace to facilitate over 40,000 travel arrangements in 2024. This success is a testament to the power of community support and the dedication of organizations like Hope Air to ensure no patient is left behind in their journey to receive the medical care they need.
