TORONTO – September 9 , 2026 – What happens when the healthcare you need is hundreds, or even thousands of kilometres from home?

On Saturday, September 12, Toronto’s aviation, business and broader community will come together at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) for Hope Air’s annual Haul for Hope, presented by Porter Airlines, raising funds to help Canadians who must travel long distances to access vital medical care.

Teams will take on the ultimate test of strength and teamwork, pulling a 67,000-pound Porter Airlines aircraft 100 metres across the tarmac against the backdrop of Toronto’s waterfront.

The challenge symbolizes the journeys thousands of patients and families make each year when specialized healthcare is not available close to home.

While Canada’s healthcare system covers medical treatment, the cost of approximately $2600 per patient and escorts per trip is often not covered. Flights, accommodations, ground transportation and meals can create a significant financial barrier for patients who must leave their communities to access cancer treatment, organ transplant care, pediatric care and other specialized services.

Hope Air helps remove that barrier by providing free medical travel support to Canadians in financial need.

Porter Airlines, a longstanding Hope Air partner and presenting sponsor of Haul for Hope, is providing the aircraft for the challenge and continued leadership for Haul for Hope in Eastern Canada.

“Haul for Hope is something that our team looks forward to each year” said Lawrence Hughes, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, Porter Airlines. “From fielding a team to prepping the aircraft and facilitating each pull, it brings to life the thousands of patient flights that Porter has been part of over the years. The event is an important means of generating funds and, more importantly, visibility and ongoing enthusiasm to continue Hope Air’s mission.”

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, owned and operated by the Toronto Port Authority, plays a particularly important role in Hope Air’s mission. Its proximity to Toronto’s world-class hospitals and specialized healthcare centres makes YTZ an important gateway for Hope Air patients travelling to the city for medical care.

“Access to healthcare starts with the ability to get there. That’s why the Toronto Port Authority supports Hope Air through Haul for Hope. For many Canadians, transportation remains a significant barrier to accessing essential and specialized care, and Hope Air is helping change that. As an airport located just minutes from Toronto’s leading hospitals and specialized healthcare centres, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport plays an important role in connecting patients to the care they need, when they need it. We’re pleased to once again host Haul for Hope and stand behind Hope Air’s vital work to help Canadians reach life-changing care.” said RJ Steenstra, President and CEO, Toronto Port Authority.

Nieuport Aviation, terminal partner at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, returns as a key partner in the event.

“Transportation infrastructure has the power to connect communities and improve lives. Haul for Hope demonstrates what is possible when partners across the aviation sector come together to help Canadians overcome barriers to accessing healthcare. We are proud to support an event that transforms community spirit into meaningful support for patients and families across the country,” said Jennifer Quinn, CEO, Nieuport Aviation.

This year carries special significance for Hope Air as the organization celebrates its 40th anniversary. Since 1986, Hope Air has worked to ensure that where someone lives or what they can afford does not prevent them from reaching the medical care they need.

“Forty years ago, Hope Air was founded on a simple belief: geography should never determine whether someone can access healthcare,” said Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer, Hope Air. “Haul for Hope brings that mission to life. Every team pulling this aircraft represents the collective effort it takes to help a patient overcome hundreds or even thousands of kilometres to reach care. We are incredibly grateful to Porter, the Toronto Port Authority, Nieuport Aviation and the entire Toronto community for continuing to pull alongside us.”

Among those joining Haul for Hope this year will be Hope Air patient Wesley and his mother, Ebele, who will share their family’s experience of travelling for medical care and the difference access to travel support can make for patients and their families.

Their story represents the reason teams take to the tarmac each year: behind every flight arranged by Hope Air is a patient who needs to get from home to healthcare.

Moving a 67,000-pound aircraft takes a team. Helping a patient overcome the distance to medical care takes a community.

A very special thank you to the National Haul for Hope event sponsors for your support of all 6 Haul for Hope events in Kelowna, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, St John’s:

• WestJet, Porter, YVR, Uber Canada, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, Calgary International Airport, Pratt & Whitney Canada, CDW Canada, Signature Aviation, Stolport, Nieuport Aviation, Toronto Port Authority, Edmonton International Airport

ABOUT HOPE AIR:
Hope Air is Canada’s national charity providing free flights, accommodations, meals and ground transportation for Canadians in financial need who must travel long distances to access medical care since 1986.

In 2025, Hope Air provided:

• 38,392 medical travel services for Canadian patients in needs,
• Supported 10,288 patient and escort trips and 14,433 flights across 710 communities.

About our patients:

• 58% would delay or cancel needed medical care if they had to pay over $500 for travel to treatment
• The annual household income is $40,000, making travel costs a significant barrier to care.
• A patient would pay roughly $2,600 per trip without Hope Air support; a cost 5x greater than this threshold to cancel.
• Patients supported by Hope Air reported a 36% reduction in hospital admissions and a 27% reduction in emergency department visits, demonstrating that removing travel barriers helps people receive care earlier and avoid worsening health outcomes.

For more information, visit hopeair.ca.

Hope Air Media Contact
Jodi Lumsden
Director, Marketing Communications
jlumsden@hopeair.ca