Community Rallies and Exceeds Goals Supporting Hope Air

The count is in for the second annual Haul for Hope plane pull at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, revealing over $100,000 donated to support Hope Air. This charity provides travel assistance to Canadians in need of medical care away from home.

This year's event featured 17 teams, including both new and returning participants. Each team includes up to 10 people challenged with pulling a 67,000-pound Porter Airlines aircraft 100 meters. 

"This event is much more than just pulling a plane," expressed Hope Air CEO Mark Rubinstein. "It's about pulling together as a community to support Canadians who are facing incredible challenges to access healthcare."

Haul For Hope aims to highlight the struggles that Hope Air patients endure to receive essential medical care while emphasizing the community’s role in helping them succeed. The fundraising initiative is crucial for the organization’s continued support of patients, especially those in remote areas.

Porter Airlines has stood by Hope Air’s mission for over a decade by providing free travel vouchers for patients. Individuals from remote communities, such as Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay, are granted more convenient access to healthcare services in Toronto.

Hope Air facilitated nearly 25,000 patient flights in 2023; a 144% increase from 2022. This brings its total to almost 200,000 travel arrangements since its inception.

This year, Hope Air has already reached record travel support numbers and is on track to fulfill over 40,000 flights.

“For people living on a low income in small and rural communities, distance and cost are very real barriers to them accessing vital medical care. Hope Air is a unique and essential part of our Canadian healthcare system. Without the access Hope Air provides, our national system of universal healthcare coverage would fall short of its promise,” the nonprofit stated.

FMI: www.hopeair.ca