TORONTO—A new partnership renewed between Hope Air and Porter Airlines will continue supporting families and children in need of travel for vital medical care.
Porter Airlines announced this new partnership Thursday, stating that it will be providing free travel vouchers for Hope Airlines patients travelling through Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
Both organizations view this as a vital connection for so many families, individuals and children who each year must travel to Toronto for specialized medical care. The announcement shared how this partnership will ensure this important connection that thousands of families from Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins and Thunder Bay, Ontario, among others, need in order to travel to Toronto Hospitals.
"Porter has supported Hope Air's efforts to better connect people with necessary medical care for more than a decade," said Paul Moreira, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Porter Airlines. "Every Hope Air passenger that Porter can assist in accessing their treatments is incredibly meaningful to us. This shouldn't be considered a privilege or based on where you live."
The renewed partnership agreement between Hope Air and Porter Airlines launched, the “Give Hope Wings Expedition” from Billy Bishop Toronto Airport on June 15, an event organized and spearheaded by dedicated volunteers. The event hoped to raise $1 million to fund 2,850 flights for Canadians in need of travel to access vital medical care.
Hope Air is Canada’s only national charity, providing free travel and accommodations for Canadians in financial need who need access to medical care far from home. Since its inception in 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 162,000 travel arrangements for patients regardless of age or medical need.
Distance and cost are real barriers for people living on low income in small and rural communities, who require vital medical care far away from home.
The announcement highlights how without the efforts of Hope Air and Porter Airlines so many families and individuals who need to travel to Toronto Hospitals would find it a financial barrier, and concern.
As stated in Thursday's announcement, “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 has been chosen as one of Canada’s best 100 charities by Maclean’s magazine, MoneySense magazine and Charity Intelligence based on efficiency, transparency and need.”
Porter Airlines offers flights to Toronto, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and Timmins, as well as many other Canadian and American cities.