Hope Air and Supporting Partner, Porter Airlines, Announce 2nd Annual Haul for Hope at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
Sept 20, 2024 – Hope Air is proud to announce the return of its annual plane pull event, Haul for Hope, at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). Porter Airlines, a long-standing partner of Hope Air, has returned as Supporting Partner for this exciting event, which will take place on September 28, 2024. This second annual Haul for Hope event received immediate commitment from the 11 teams that pulled in the inaugural event last year plus an additional 7 new teams, expanding the event to 18 teams that demonstrate strong support for Hope Air’s mission to help Canadian patients in need access vital medical care far from home.
Among the new entrants is a participant well familiar with feats of strength, who will be pulling a plane for first time and involving his colleagues as a team-building exercise. David Steele, a strongman competitor from the UK. Steele, who regularly travels to Toronto for business is an advocate for Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport being the heart of Toronto. Understanding how this convenience also benefits Hope Air patients, Steele is eager to lend his strength and leadership to the event and views Haul for Hope as the perfect team-building challenge while supporting a cause he deeply values.
“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. “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’re excited to welcome 18 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.”
The Haul for Hope plane pull is a unique event in which teams of up to 10 people will come together to pull a 67,000 lb Porter Airlines aircraft 100 meters. This symbolic challenge reflects the journey that Hope Air patients face as they overcome geographical barriers to access essential medical care. The event serves as a reminder of the importance of community support in bridging the gap between home and hospital.
“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.”
Porter has been a committed partner for over a decade, providing free travel vouchers for Hope Air patients travelling through Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, a critical travel connection for thousands of families, individuals and children who must travel to Toronto for specialized medical care. For patients living in communities such as Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, among others, it allows them to travel conveniently and safely to reach Toronto hospitals.
This year’s Haul for Hope is set to be an impactful day filled with team spirit, camaraderie, and purpose. Hope Air is facing unprecedented demand for its services, having already set a record for travel supports provided in just seven months of 2024. This event is critical to raising the necessary funds and awareness to ensure that Canadians living in rural and remote areas continue to have access to the medical care they need.
Event Details:
Date: September 28, 2024
Location: Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)
Time: 930AM-2PM
Photo Opportunity (10:00AM): Mark Rubinstein, CEO of Hope Air; Michael Deluce, President and CEO of Porter Airlines; RJ Steenstra, President and CEO of PortsToronto; Neil Pakey, President and CEO of Nieuport Aviation, and David Steele, UK Strongman Competitor.
For more information on Haul for Hope and to register your team, visit www.hopeair.ca/haul.
Background:
Haul for Hope is a fundraising event in support of Hope Air, Canada’s only national charity providing free travel support through flights, accommodations, meals, and ground transportation for Canadians in financial need who must access medical care far from home. Since its inception in 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 200,000 travel arrangements for patients, regardless of age or medical need.
Patient Impact Statistics:
Hope Air would like to thank all sponsors, hosts and partners including:
Jodi Lumsden
Director, Marketing Communications
647-688-5634
jlumsden@hopeair.ca
About Hope Air
Hope Air is Canada’s only national charity providing free travel, accommodations, meals and ground transportation for Canadians in financial need who must access medical care far from home. Since its inception in 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 200,000 travel arrangements for patients regardless of age or medical need.
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.
Hope Air is accredited by Imagine Canada’s Standards. This accreditation validates our commitment to good governance and transparency. For more information, visit hopeair.ca.
Among the new entrants is a participant well familiar with feats of strength, who will be pulling a plane for first time and involving his colleagues as a team-building exercise. David Steele, a strongman competitor from the UK. Steele, who regularly travels to Toronto for business is an advocate for Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport being the heart of Toronto. Understanding how this convenience also benefits Hope Air patients, Steele is eager to lend his strength and leadership to the event and views Haul for Hope as the perfect team-building challenge while supporting a cause he deeply values.
“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. “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’re excited to welcome 18 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.”
The Haul for Hope plane pull is a unique event in which teams of up to 10 people will come together to pull a 67,000 lb Porter Airlines aircraft 100 meters. This symbolic challenge reflects the journey that Hope Air patients face as they overcome geographical barriers to access essential medical care. The event serves as a reminder of the importance of community support in bridging the gap between home and hospital.
“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.”
Porter has been a committed partner for over a decade, providing free travel vouchers for Hope Air patients travelling through Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, a critical travel connection for thousands of families, individuals and children who must travel to Toronto for specialized medical care. For patients living in communities such as Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, among others, it allows them to travel conveniently and safely to reach Toronto hospitals.
This year’s Haul for Hope is set to be an impactful day filled with team spirit, camaraderie, and purpose. Hope Air is facing unprecedented demand for its services, having already set a record for travel supports provided in just seven months of 2024. This event is critical to raising the necessary funds and awareness to ensure that Canadians living in rural and remote areas continue to have access to the medical care they need.
Event Details:
Date: September 28, 2024
Location: Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)
Time: 930AM-2PM
Photo Opportunity (10:00AM): Mark Rubinstein, CEO of Hope Air; Michael Deluce, President and CEO of Porter Airlines; RJ Steenstra, President and CEO of PortsToronto; Neil Pakey, President and CEO of Nieuport Aviation, and David Steele, UK Strongman Competitor.
For more information on Haul for Hope and to register your team, visit www.hopeair.ca/haul.
Background:
Haul for Hope is a fundraising event in support of Hope Air, Canada’s only national charity providing free travel support through flights, accommodations, meals, and ground transportation for Canadians in financial need who must access medical care far from home. Since its inception in 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 200,000 travel arrangements for patients, regardless of age or medical need.
Patient Impact Statistics:
- Without Hope Air, 87% of patients felt they had no other travel options.
- 48% would have to travel 9-13+ hours each way for care.
- 65% would have gone into debt to manage travel costs, and 25% would have to borrow money.
Hope Air would like to thank all sponsors, hosts and partners including:
- WestJet as presenting partner in Western Canada.
- Porter as supporting partner in Toronto.
- YVR as host and site presenting sponsor in Vancouver, hosted at Signature Aviation on September 20.
- Aon, Plusgrade and Uber Canada as Gold Sponsors.
- Nieuport Aviation, Infinite Investment Systems, Odlum Brown, and NAV Canada as Silver Sponsors.
- YYC and Million Air as hosts in Calgary on September 12.
- KF Centre for Excellence and YLW as hosts in Kelowna on September 18.
- Nieuport Aviation and PortsToronto as hosts at YTZ in Toronto on September 28.
Jodi Lumsden
Director, Marketing Communications
647-688-5634
jlumsden@hopeair.ca
About Hope Air
Hope Air is Canada’s only national charity providing free travel, accommodations, meals and ground transportation for Canadians in financial need who must access medical care far from home. Since its inception in 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 200,000 travel arrangements for patients regardless of age or medical need.
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.
Hope Air is accredited by Imagine Canada’s Standards. This accreditation validates our commitment to good governance and transparency. For more information, visit hopeair.ca.