While medical treatment in Canada is free, receiving medical care also comes with a high cost for those who must travel a long distance to receive care. Hope Air flights serve as a vital alternative to patients who would otherwise have to travel four to 12 hours or more to their medical appointments. In 2024, the second annual Haul for Hope plane pull at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport raised more than $100,000 in support of Hope Air’s mission of providing families in need, from coast to coast, with the travel and accommodations needed to access medical care far from home.
“I want to thank our friends at PortsToronto, longstanding partners of Hope Air, for their ongoing support of our mission to ensure that no patient is left behind in getting access to vital medical care. This year, we were proud to welcome participants to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport with PortsToronto as our hosts for the inaugural Haul for Hope fundraising event. In 2023, Hope Air provided 24,973 travel arrangements in 2023, an increase of 144% over the previous year. None of this travel for nearly 3,000 patients happens without our committed airport partners who support in so many ways, and who act as a gateway to care for people traveling into downtown Toronto.”
-Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer, Hope Air