Pilot Ed Johnston says Monday’s stop in Happy Valley-Goose Bay stands out among the others on this year’s Give Hope Wings fundraising expedition.

“This was like a big family coming out for your reunion, so that was pretty amazing,” he said, of the enthusiastic turnout at the airport.

Johnston is one of the many volunteers from across Canada using their own aircrafts for the series of flights from Aug. 4-15. The pilots appeal for donations, with all funds going to Hope Air.

The national charity helps people in financial need who have to travel on a non-emergency basis for medical services. The charity offers support by way of free flights, up to five nights’ accommodations, car vouchers and more. Some of the people at the airport on Monday were thankful beneficiaries.

Now retired, Johnston said the volunteer work simply seemed like a worthy use of his time.

“I think it’s using something — call it your talents, if you will — for good,” he said.

Johnston said it’s his fourth year as co-leader of the fundraising expedition. It was the fundraising tour’s first time to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, but the airport is a regular departure and arrival point for Hope Air’s flights.

A top 10 stop for flight frequency

Jaclyn Sullivan is Hope Air’s director for Atlantic Canada. She said the Goose Bay – St. John’s route makes up about one quarter of the charity’s flights in Newfoundland and Labrador. The route is also number six nationally, in terms of number of flights offered through Hope Air.

“That’ll tell you how important this service is here in this community,” she said.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador does offer financial assistance for medical travel, in the Medical Travel Assistance Program (MTAP). However, Sullivan said patients have often asked for help in the past based on not being able to cover payments for travel up front. In other cases, travel was not entirely covered by MTAP.

“Some people have said they burned through their entire life savings just getting back and forth to medical appointments, and they just don’t have the capacity,” she said.

“They (also) don’t have the ability to wait. So, thankfully, Hope Air is there,” she added.

Hope Air is currently partnering with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to provide fully covered travel services, with costs shared between the provincial Medical Transportation Assistance Program and Hope Air. The pilot project is scheduled to continue to March 31, 2027.

Sullivan said Hope Air’s efforts help to keep non-emergent patients in proper treatment, and also reduces the number of people delaying their assessments or treatments, and ending up in emergency rooms. In this way, she suggested, the charity helps the health-care system overall.

Health Minister Lela Evans was on hand for the fundraising event on Monday. Evans said the province is still working on increasing MTAP coverage to 100 per cent for travel required outside the region.

“Patients, when they’re dealing with health issues, they shouldn’t have to deal with financial burden,” Evan said, calling Hope Air a “wonderful, wonderful partner” in responding to patient needs.

The Give Hope Wings expedition takes different routes each year. Other than Happy Valley-Goose Bay, stops this year also included St. John’s, Halifax, and Sudbury, Ont. Evans also was on hand at the St. John’s event, along with Premier Tony Wakeham.

The pilots had raised over $335,000 of a $400,000 goal as of Monday evening. The Give Hope Wings fundraiser has contributed over $3.5 million since its first year in 2017.