Hope Air Brings Annual Plane Pull Event, Haul for Hope, to Kelowna's KF Centre for Excellence
September 11, 2024 – Hope Air is excited to announce the Kelowna stop of its annual
plane pull event, Haul for Hope. This year’s event will take place at the iconic KF
Centre for Excellence on September 18, 2024. This unique venue, a cornerstone of
Canadian aviation history, offers a fitting backdrop as teams come together to pull a
67,000 lbs aircraft 100 meters, symbolizing the immense challenges faced by patients
who must travel long distances to access vital medical care.
The KF Centre for Excellence, a world class facility that includes a multifaceted, handson aviation experience dedicated to preserving and showcasing Canada’s rich aerospace heritage, is the ideal location for Haul for Hope. This venue not only celebrates the spirit of aviation but also underscores the critical role air travel plays in connecting patients with life-saving medical care.
Over the years, Hope Air has provided travel arrangements for 800 patients from Kelowna through 7,285 travel arrangements, ensuring they have access to the medical care they need, regardless of distance or financial constraints. Hope Air also supports patients from surrounding communities travelling into Kelowna for care with 697 travel arrangements so far this year. This unique position as a high volume inbound and outbound community for patients makes Kelowna a natural stop on this year’s Haul for Hope tour.
Kelowna, like the rest of Canada, is showing demand for support growing at an alarming rate with 348 travel arrangements to date in 2024 with Hope Air anticipating setting a record for the number of travel supports delivered in the community this year which is why events like Haul for Hope are important to raise funds and awareness of the issue.
Haul for Hope is more than just a physical challenge; it’s a powerful demonstration of the collective effort required to support Canadians who face barriers in accessing healthcare. Teams will strategize and work together to pull an aircraft 100 meters, mirroring the challenging journey faced by Hope Air patients who must confront the barriers of distance and cost to obtain vital, life-saving care.
“The need to rally new support through this event has never been greater,” says Mark Rubinstein, CEO of Hope Air. “It takes a number of partners, working together, to ensure that no patient is left behind. Partners like the KF Centre for Excellence and Kelowna International Airport (YLW) play a crucial role in helping our patients get to the medical care they need. We’re proud to bring Haul for Hope to Kelowna, where the community’s support will help bridge the distance between home and hospital for many Canadians.”
We invite the Kelowna community to participate in this meaningful event, supporting Hope Air’s mission and helping ensure that no Canadian is left behind when it comes to accessing essential healthcare services. Together, we can make a difference and bring hope to those who need it most.
Event Details: Date: September 18, 2024
Location: KF Centre for Excellence, Kelowna, BC
Time: 1PM-6PM
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.
The charity is pursuing new avenues for fundraising in response to an overwhelming increase in demand. After fulfilling 24,998 travel arrangements in 2023, a 144% increase over 2022 and record for the charity, Hope Air is on track to provide more than 40,000 travel supports in 2024.
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
• De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, 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
Hope Air Media Contact:
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.
The KF Centre for Excellence, a world class facility that includes a multifaceted, handson aviation experience dedicated to preserving and showcasing Canada’s rich aerospace heritage, is the ideal location for Haul for Hope. This venue not only celebrates the spirit of aviation but also underscores the critical role air travel plays in connecting patients with life-saving medical care.
Over the years, Hope Air has provided travel arrangements for 800 patients from Kelowna through 7,285 travel arrangements, ensuring they have access to the medical care they need, regardless of distance or financial constraints. Hope Air also supports patients from surrounding communities travelling into Kelowna for care with 697 travel arrangements so far this year. This unique position as a high volume inbound and outbound community for patients makes Kelowna a natural stop on this year’s Haul for Hope tour.
Kelowna, like the rest of Canada, is showing demand for support growing at an alarming rate with 348 travel arrangements to date in 2024 with Hope Air anticipating setting a record for the number of travel supports delivered in the community this year which is why events like Haul for Hope are important to raise funds and awareness of the issue.
Haul for Hope is more than just a physical challenge; it’s a powerful demonstration of the collective effort required to support Canadians who face barriers in accessing healthcare. Teams will strategize and work together to pull an aircraft 100 meters, mirroring the challenging journey faced by Hope Air patients who must confront the barriers of distance and cost to obtain vital, life-saving care.
“The need to rally new support through this event has never been greater,” says Mark Rubinstein, CEO of Hope Air. “It takes a number of partners, working together, to ensure that no patient is left behind. Partners like the KF Centre for Excellence and Kelowna International Airport (YLW) play a crucial role in helping our patients get to the medical care they need. We’re proud to bring Haul for Hope to Kelowna, where the community’s support will help bridge the distance between home and hospital for many Canadians.”
We invite the Kelowna community to participate in this meaningful event, supporting Hope Air’s mission and helping ensure that no Canadian is left behind when it comes to accessing essential healthcare services. Together, we can make a difference and bring hope to those who need it most.
Event Details: Date: September 18, 2024
Location: KF Centre for Excellence, Kelowna, BC
Time: 1PM-6PM
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.
The charity is pursuing new avenues for fundraising in response to an overwhelming increase in demand. After fulfilling 24,998 travel arrangements in 2023, a 144% increase over 2022 and record for the charity, Hope Air is on track to provide more than 40,000 travel supports in 2024.
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
• De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, 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
Hope Air Media Contact:
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.