WATCH: A B.C. charity is declaring June 17 as Hope Air Day. It's in honour of a service which allows patients in financial need to travel around the province for medical appointments and surgeries - free of charge. Aaron MacArthur reports.When Oziel Guerra takes to the skies in his plane, his heart soars not only for his love of flying, but his ability to help the special passengers who sometimes accompany him.
Guerra heard about Hope Air from a friend and fellow pilot and knew it was something he wanted to get involved with. He applied, interviewed and started ferrying passengers last year.Around one in five people living in Northern and rural communities in B.C. have had to cancel a medical appointment due to distance or cost. Guerra acknowledges it’s not always about the money.“For some people, it’s not only about having the funds, but having the time,” he said.
Hope Air says it has seen a sharp increase in the number of requests for help from patients around B.C. It provided 14,132 travel arrangements in 2023, a 145-per cent spike from the year before.The charity declared June 17 as Hope Air Day across the province in hopes of raising awareness about the work being done.“These people who are behind it, coordinate a lot of things, transportation, lodging, eating and of course, the medical services provided. Nothing could happen without them.
Last year, the province provided $10 million to Hope Air to transport cancer patients. Bringing equity in health care to more British Columbians is a key component of the agency’s model.
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