From Hope Air’s first flight, where they arranged for transportation of a child from New Brunswick to Toronto for cancer treatments, this organization has enabled thousands of Canadians to attend treatments, appointments, surgeries and other medical requirements.
People from all corners of the country have accessed medical services from remote and distance locations through these services they desperately need.
Quesnel has gone one step further in its desire to further the good work of Hope Air. Friends of Hope Air-Quesnel (FOHA-Q) is the only non-profit organization in Canada that raised funds exclusively for Quesnel residents to access Hope Air’s vital service.
Their first fundraiser was a very successful sold-out masquerade New Year’s Eve event 2016.
Through the efforts of eight dedicated women, they organized and executed the New Year’s Eve event, as well as a pub night in October.
Together with other donations, Friends of Hope Air-Quesnel raised $28,000, which paid for 112 patients to seek medical services outside our community at no cost to them. This number is above and beyond the number of flights Hope Air designates to our community already.
FOHA-Q has eight key members who bring their talents to raising money.
“Each member has different strengths and they bring it all together for very successful fundraisers,” FOHA-Q president Elizabeth Ross says.
“We are already planning our two events for 2018 and they’re going to be fabulous.”
Members include Ross, Laurey-Anne Roodenburg, Denise Carlson, Ashley Schmidt, Melissa Pollock, Kerry Patterson, Susan MacNeill and Jeanette Thurston.
Ross adds the community has rallied to make their initial year very successful and she appreciates all they have done for the fundraising events.
“At the pub night, three ladies from Integris Credit Union volunteered to help and they were invaluable.”
The Hope Air mission is to provide Canadians in financial need with free travel to medical care far from home. However, how they accomplish this goal is amazing.
Through Hope Air’s generous partnerships with corporations, foundations and individuals, they facilitate the purchase of tickets on commercial flights. Partnerships with various commercial airlines also see donated seats, and last but not least, volunteer pilots donate their time and aircraft to fly patients to medical services.
Hope Air relies heavily on its dedicated volunteer base. In 2016, it had 11 staff members across the country and 128 volunteers who donated 5,350 hours of their time.
Without the services they provide, 28 per cent of Hope Air patients would cancel or postpone their appointments and 21 per cent would drive or bus eight-plus hours each way for appointments. Of the total number of patients who use Hope Air Services, 37 per cent travel to appointments for surgery or other treatments and 21 per cent of all flights are for cancer patients.
Helping FOHA-Q is simple: purchase tickets and attend the 2017 New Year’s Eve gala at the Quesnel & District Seniors’ Centre.
This year the theme is the Great Gatsby. There are two levels of tickets: first-class tickets are $80 and includes a special New Year’s libation, choice seating, table service and hors d’oeuvres and total first-class treatment all evening long. Regular ticket prices are $60 each. For tickets, contact Melissa at 250-255-4950.
Another pub night is also planned for late summer or early fall. Although wildly successful, the group plans to have a different theme for this year’s pub night. Last year’s Open Season Pub Night raised $16,000 of their total $28,000 funds raised.
Friends of Hope Air-Quesnel welcomes donations at any time during the year. Those wishing to contributed can contact Melissa or visit hopeair.ca online.